GRE Word List L(part 1)

labile likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
laborious demanding much work or care; tedious
labyrinth maze
lace cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
laceration torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound
lachrymose producing tears; tearful
lackadaisical lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
lackluster lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
laconic brief and to the point; using few words; terse
lag move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.
laggard slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
lagoon shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
laity laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
lament grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
lampoon ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
lance pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
lancet small surgical tool for making incisions
languid lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
languish lose animation or strength
languor lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
lank long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
lap take in food or drink with one’s tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person
larceny theft; Ex. petit larceny
larder pantry; place where food is kept
largess generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
lascivious lustful
lassitude languor; weariness; listlessness
latch fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
latent present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
lateral of or coming from the side
latitude freedom from narrow limitations
laud praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise
lavish liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
lax careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
layman man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
leash restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
leaven add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens
leave-taking farewell or departure
lechery gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
lectern reading desk or stand for a public speaker
leery (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
leeway room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
legacy gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
legato (of music) played smoothly
legend explanatory list of symbols on a map
legerdemain sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
legislature legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
leniency mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
leonine like a lion
lethal deadly
lethargic drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity
levee earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
levitate rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
levity lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
levy impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
lewd lustful
lexicographer compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary
lexicon dictionary
liability drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
liaison contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
libel defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person’s character; V. ADJ. libelous
libertine debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\’e; CF. free
libidinous lustful
libido psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
libretto text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
license official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
licentious amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
lien legal claim or right on a property
ligneous like wood
lilliputian extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels
limber flexible; supple; pliable; V.
limbo region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
limn draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
limp walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
limpid crystal clear