thieves ( th¶vz) n. 1. Plural of thief .

thief ( th¶f) n. pl. thieves ( th¶vz) 1. One who steals, especially one who steals movable property by stealth rather than force. [Middle English from Old English th¶of]

thieve ( th¶v) v. tr. intr. thieved thiev·ing thieves 1. To take (something) by theft or commit theft. [Perhaps from Old English th¶ofian from th¶of thief]

lack ( l²k) n. 1. A deficiency or an absence: a lack of money. 2. Something needed or wanted. v. lacked lack·ing lacks v. tr. 1. To be entirely without or have very little of. 2. To be in need of. v. intr. 1. To be wanting or deficient: You will not be lacking in support from me. 2. To be in need of something: I lacked for nothing. [Middle English perhaps from Middle Dutch lac deficiency, fault]

Synonyms: lack want need These verbs mean to be without something, especially something that is necessary or desirable. Lack emphasizes the absence of the thing in question or the inadequacy of its supply: She lacks the money to buy new shoes. The plant died because it lacked moisture. What he lacks in courage he compensates for in bravado. Want and need stress the urgent necessity for filling a void or remedying an inadequacy: " Her pens were uniformly bad and wanted fixing " (Bret Harte). I need help. The garden needs care. " Only when he has ceased to need things can a man truly be his own master and so really exist " (Anwar el-Sadat).

Usage Note: As an intransitive verb in the sense " to be wanting or deficient, " lack is used chiefly in the present participle with in: You will not be lacking in support from me. In the sense " to be in need of something " it is often used with for: " In the terrible, beautiful age of my prime,/I lacked for sweet linen but never for time " (E.B. White).

lank ( l²ngk) adj. lank·er lank·est 1. Long and lean. See note at lean 2 . 2. Long, straight, and limp: lank and floppy hair. [Middle English from Old English hlanc] lank "ly adv. lank "ness n.

lark 1 ( lärk) n. 1. Any of various chiefly Old World birds of the family Alaudidae, especially the skylark, having a sustained, melodious song. 2. Any of several similar birds, such as the meadowlark. [Middle English laveroc, larke from Old English l³werce]

lark 2 ( lärk) n. 1. A carefree or spirited adventure. 2. A harmless prank. v. intr. larked lark·ing larks 1. To engage in spirited fun or merry pranks. [Perhaps short for skylark to frolic and possibly alteration of dialectal lake play( from Middle English leik, laik) (from Old Norse leikr) ] lark "er n. lark "ish adj.

leak ( l¶k) v. leaked leak·ing leaks v. intr. 1. To permit the escape, entry, or passage of something through a breach or flaw: rusted pipes that were beginning to leak; a boat leaking at the seams. 2. To escape or pass through a breach or flaw: helium leaking slowly from the balloon. 3. Informal To become publicly known through a breach of secrecy: The news has leaked. v. tr. 1. To permit (a substance) to escape or pass through a breach or flaw: a damaged reactor leaking radioactivity into the atmosphere. 2. Informal To disclose without authorization or official sanction: leaked classified information to a reporter. n. 1. A crack or flaw that permits something to escape from or enter a container or conduit: fixed the leak in the roof. 2. a. The act or instance of leaking. b. An amount leaked: equipment used in cleaning up oil leaks. 3. Informal An unauthorized or a deliberate disclosure of confidential information: " Sometimes we can't respond to stories based on leaks " Ronald Reagan 4. a. Loss of electric current as a result of faulty insulation. b. The path or place at which this loss takes place.

Idioms: take a leak Vulgar Slang 1. To urinate. [Middle English leken probably from Middle Dutch] leak "er n.

leek ( l¶k) n. 1. An edible plant (Allium porrum) related to the onion and having a white, slender bulb and flat, dark-green leaves. [Middle English lek from Old English l¶ac]

lick ( l¹k) v. licked lick·ing licks v. tr. 1. To pass the tongue over or along: lick a stamp. 2. To lap up. 3. To lap or flicker at like a tongue: The waves licked the sides of the boat. 4. Slang To punish with a beating; thrash. 5. Slang To get the better of; defeat: licked her weight problem. v. intr. 1. To pass or lap quickly and rapidly: The flames licked at our feet. n. 1. The act or process of licking. 2. A small quantity; a bit: hasn't got a lick of common sense. 3. A deposit of exposed natural salt that is licked by passing animals. 4. A sudden hard stroke; a blow. 5. Informal Speed; pace: moving along at a good lick. 6. Music A phrase improvised by a soloist, especially on the guitar or banjo.

Idioms: lick and a promise 1. A superficial effort made without care or enthusiasm. lick into shape Informal 1. To bring into satisfactory condition or appearance. lick (one's) chops 1. To anticipate delightedly. lick (one's) wounds 1. To recuperate after a defeat. [Middle English licken from Old English liccian; See leigh- in Indo-European Roots.] lick "er n.

leigh- . Important derivatives are: lick lecher To lick. I. 1. ELECTUARY , LICHEN , from Greek leikhein , to lick. 2. Zero-grade form *ligh- . a. LICK , from Old English liccian , to lick; b. LECHER , from Old French lechier , to live in debauchery. Both a and b from Germanic *likk ½n. 3. Nasalized zero-grade form *li-n-gh- . ANILINGUS , CUNNILINGUS , from Latin lingere , to lick. [ Pokorny leigh- 668. ]

link 1 ( l¹ngk) n. 1. One of the rings or loops forming a chain. 2. a. A unit in a connected series of units: links of sausage; one link in a molecular chain. b. A unit in a transportation or communications system. c. A connecting element; a tie or bond: grandparents, our link with the past. 3. a. An association; a relationship: The Alumnae Association is my link to the school's present administration. b. A causal, parallel, or reciprocal relationship; a correlation: Researchers have detected a link between smoking and heart disease. 4. A cuff link. 5. Abbr. li. A unit of length used in surveying, equal to 0.01 chain, 7.92 inches, or about 20.12 centimeters. 6. A rod or lever transmitting motion in a machine. 7. Computer Science An identifying term attached to an element in a system to facilitate connection to other identified elements. v. tr. intr. linked link·ing links 1. To connect or become connected with or as if with a link. See note at join . [Middle English linke of Scandinavian origin Old Norse hlekkr, ·hlenkr] link "er n.

link 2 ( l¹ngk) n. 1. A torch formerly used for lighting one's way in the streets. [Possibly from Medieval Latin linchinus, lichnus candle from Latin lychnus from Greek lukhnos lamp; See leuk- in Indo-European Roots.]

leuk- . Important derivatives are: light 1 luminary luminous illuminate lunar lunatic luster illustrate lea lucid elucidate translucent lynx Light, brightness. I. Basic form *leuk- . 1. Suffixed form *leuk-to- . a. LIGHT 1 , from Old English l ¶oht, l ºht, light; b. LIGHTNING , from Old English l ºhtan, to shine, from Germanic *leuht-jan , to make light. Both a and b from Germanic *leuhtam . 2. Unsuffixed form *leuk- . LUCINA , LUCULENT , LUX ; LUCIFER , ( LUCIFERIN ), from Latin l ¿x, light. 3. Suffixed form *leuk-smen- . LIMN , LUMEN , LUMINARY , LUMINOUS ; ILLUMINATE , PHILLUMENIST , from Latin l ¿men, light, opening. 4. Suffixed form *leuk-sn ³-. LUNA , LUNAR , LUNATE , LUNATIC , LUNE , LUNULA ; SUBLUNARY , from Latin l ¿na, moon. 5. Suffixed form *leuk-stro- . a. LUSTER , ( LUSTRUM ), from Latin l ¿strum, purification; b. ILLUSTRATE , from Latin l ¿str³re, to purify, illuminate. 6. Suffixed form *leuko-dhro- . LUCUBRATE , from Latin l ¿cubr³re, to work by lamplight. 7. Suffixed form *leuk-o- . LEUKO- , from Greek leukos , clear, white. II. O-grade form *louk- . 1. Suffixed form *louk-o- . a. LEA , from Old English l ¶ah, meadow ( < " place where light shines "), from Germanic *lauhaz ; b. LEVIN , from Middle English levin , lightning, from Germanic *lauh-ubni- . 2. Suffixed (iterative) form *louk-eyo- . LUCENT , LUCID ; ELUCIDATE , NOCTILUCA , PELLUCID , RELUCENT , TRANSLUCENT , from Latin l ¿c¶re, to shine. III. Zero-grade form *luk- . 1. Suffixed form *luk-sno- . LINK 2 , LYCHNIS , from Greek lukhnos , lamp. 2. LYNX , OUNCE 2 , from Greek lunx , lynx (as if from its shining eyes), attributed by some to this root (but more likely of obscure origin). [ Pokorny leuk- 687. ]

lock 1 ( l¼k) n. 1. A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing. 2. A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section. 3. A mechanism in a firearm for exploding the charge. 4. An interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts. 5. a. Sports A hold in wrestling or self-defense that is secured on a part of an opponent's body. b. A secure hold or grip: The distributor has a lock on most of the market. v. locked lock·ing locks v. tr. 1. a. To fasten the lock of: close and lock a drawer. b. To shut or make secure with or as if with locks: locked the house. 2. To confine or exclude by or as if by means of a lock: locked the dog in for the night; locked the criminal up in a cell. 3. To fix in place so that movement or escape is impossible; hold fast: The ship was locked in the ice through the winter. She felt that she had become locked into a binding agreement. 4. a. To sight and follow (a moving target) automatically: locked the enemy fighter in the gun sights. b. To aim (a weapon or other device) at a moving target so as to follow it automatically: " The pilot had locked his targeting radar on the slow-moving frigate " Ed Magnuson 5. To engage and interlock securely so as to be immobile. 6. To clasp or link firmly; intertwine: locked arms and walked away. 7. To bind in close struggle or battle: The two dogs were locked in combat. 8. a. To equip (a waterway) with locks. b. To pass (a vessel) through a lock. 9. Printing a. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins. b. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press. 10. To invest (funds) in such a way that they cannot easily be converted into cash. 11. Computer Science To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents. v. intr. 1. To become fastened by or as if by means of a lock: The door locks automatically when shut. 2. To become entangled; interlock. 3. To become rigid or immobile: The mechanism tends to lock in cold weather. 4. To pass through a lock or locks in a waterway.

Phrasal Verbs: lock out 1. To withhold work from (employees) during a labor dispute.

Idioms: lock horns 1. To become embroiled in conflict. lock, stock, and barrel 1. To the greatest or most complete extent; wholly: an estate that was auctioned off lock, stock, and barrel. [Middle English from Old English loc bolt, bar] lock "a·ble adj.

lock 2 ( l¼k) n. 1. a. A length or curl of hair; a tress. b. Often locks The hair of the head. 2. A small wisp or tuft, as of wool or cotton. [Middle English from Old English locc]

look ( l‹k) v. looked look·ing looks v. intr. 1. a. To employ one's sight, especially in a given direction or on a given object: looking out the window; looked at the floor. b. To search: We looked all afternoon but could not find it. 2. a. To turn one's glance or gaze: looked to the right. b. To turn one's attention; attend: looked to his neglected guitar during vacation. c. To turn one's expectations: looked to us for a solution. 3. To seem or appear to be: look morose. See note at seem . 4. To face in a specified direction: The cottage looks on the river. v. tr. 1. To turn one's eyes on: looked him in the eye. 2. To convey by one's expression: looked annoyance at the judge; looked his devotion to me. 3. a. To have an appearance of conformity with: He looks his age. She dressed up to look the part. b. To appear to be: looked the fool in one version of the story. n. 1. a. The act or instance of looking: I took just one look and I was sure. b. A gaze or glance expressive of something: gave her a mournful look. 2. a. Appearance or aspect: a look of great age. b. looks Physical appearance, especially when pleasing. c. A distinctive, unified manner of dress or fashion: the preferred look for this fall.

Phrasal Verbs: look after 1. To take care of: looked after his younger brother. look for 1. To search for; seek: looking for my gloves. 2. To expect: Look for a change of weather in March. look on or look upon 1. To regard in a certain way: looked on them as incompetents. look out 1. To be watchful or careful; take care: If you don't look out, you may fall on the ice. We looked out for each other on the trip. look to 1. To expect: He looked to hear from her. 2. To seem about to; promise to: " an ‘ Action Program, ’ which . . . looked to reduce tariffs on over 1,800 items " Alan D. Romberg look up 1. To search for and find, as in a reference book. 2. To visit: look up an old friend. 3. To become better; improve: Things are at last looking up.

Idioms: look a gift horse in the mouth Informal 1. To be critical or suspicious of something one has received without expense. look alive or look sharp Informal 1. To act or respond quickly: Look alive! We leave in five minutes. look down on or look down upon 1. To regard with contempt or condescension. look down (one's) nose at or look down (one's) nose on 1. To regard with contempt or condescension. look forward to 1. To think of (a future event) with pleasurable, eager anticipation: looking forward to graduation. look up to 1. To admire: looked up to the older poet. [Middle English loken from Old English l½cian]

luck ( l¾k) n. 1. The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune: as luck would have it. 2. Good fortune or prosperity; success: We wish you luck. 3. One's personal fate or lot: It's just my luck. v. intr. lucked luck·ing lucks Informal 1. To gain success or something desirable by chance: lucked into a good apartment; lucked out in finding that rare book.

Idioms: in luck 1. Enjoying success; fortunate. out of luck 1. Lacking good fortune. push (one's) luck 1. To risk one's good fortune, often by acting overconfidently. try (one's) luck 1. To attempt something without knowing if one will be successful. [Middle English lucke from Middle Dutch luc short for gheluc]

lurk ( lûrk) v. intr. lurked lurk·ing lurks 1. To lie in wait, as in ambush. 2. To move furtively; sneak. 3. To exist unobserved or unsuspected: danger lurking around every bend. [Middle English lurken possibly of Scandinavian origin] lurk "ing·ly adv.