- lord
- [[t]lɔ͟ː(r)d[/t]]
♦♦lords, lording, lorded1) N-COUNT; N-TITLE In Britain, a lord is a man who has a high rank in the nobility, for example an earl, a viscount, or a marquis.
She married a lord and lives in this huge house in the Cotswolds...
A few days earlier he had received a telegram from Lord Lloyd.
2) N-VOC: my N (politeness) In Britain, judges, bishops, and some male members of the nobility are addressed as `my Lord'.My lord, I am instructed by my client to claim that the evidence has been tampered with.
3) In Britain, Lord is used in the titles of some officials of very high rank.He was Lord Chancellor from 1970 until 1974.
...Sir Brian Hutton, the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland.
4) N-PROPER-COLL: the N The Lords is the same as the House of Lords.It's very likely the bill will be defeated in the Lords.
5) N-COUNT In former times, especially in medieval times, a lord was a man who owned land or property and who had power and authority over people.It was the home of the powerful lords of Baux.
6) N-PROPER: usu the N; N-VOC In the Christian church, people refer to God and to Jesus Christ as the Lord.→ See also Our LordI know the Lord will look after him...
She prayed now. `Lord, help me to find courage.'
...the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
7) N-COUNT: usu with supp, usu N of n If you describe a man as the lord of a particular area, industry, or thing, you mean that they have total authority and power over it.A century ago the aristocracy were truly lords of the earth.
...the lords of the black market.
8) EXCLAM (feelings) Lord is used in exclamations such as `good Lord!' and `oh Lord!' to express surprise, shock, frustration, or annoyance about something.`Good lord, that's what he is: he's a policeman.'...
`They didn't fire you for drinking, did they?' - `Lord, no! I only drink beer, nowadays.'
Syn:heavens9) PHRASE: usu PHR that (emphasis) You can say `Lord knows' to emphasize something that you feel or believe very strongly.I've got to go home, but Lord knows I dread it.
10) PHRASE: usu PHR wh (emphasis) You can say `Lord knows' to emphasize that you do not know something.He would turn up at meetings, but Lord knows where he came from.
11) PHRASE: V inflects (disapproval) If someone lords it over you, they act in a way that shows that they think they are better than you, especially by giving lots of orders.Alex seemed to enjoy lording it over the three girls.
English dictionary. 2008.
