Glossary
Terms starting with L
653 definitions · page 1 of 11.
- L chondrite
- a chondrite (a stony meteorite containing small, round, silicate granules called chondrules) that has a low amount of iron
- L-SHARE VARIABLE ANNUITIES
- A form of variable annuity contract usually with short surrender periods and higher mortality and expense risk charges.
- Labor Certification
- The initial stage of the process by which certain foreign workers get permission to work in the United States. The employer is responsible for getting the labor certification from the Department of Labor. In general the process works to make sure that the…
- Labor Condition Application (LCA)
- A request to the Department of Labor for a foreign worker to work in the United States. This application is required for H-1(b), specialty occupation nonimmigrant workers.
- lac operon
- An inducible operon including three loci involved in the uptake and breakdown of lactose in Escherichia coli.
- Lactic Acid
- A component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor.
- LADDERING
- A technique that consists of staggering the maturity dates and the mix of different types of bonds.
- Ladies' fingers
- An alternative name (because of its appearance) for okra, an ingredient that's widely used in Indian, Middle Eastern, Caribbean and southern US cookery where it's an essential ingredient in gumbo. A long green pod with a slightly fuzzy skin, it's full of…
- LADWP
- The acronym for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power an electric, municipal utility serving the greater Los Angeles, California, region.
- lagging strand
- In DNA replication, the strand that is synthesized apparently in the 3' to 5' direction, but actually in the 5' to 3' direction by ligating short fragments synthesized individually. Strand of DNA being replicated discontinuously. See also leading strand.
- Lagrange point
- one of five locations in space relative to two bodies where a third, less massive body can maintain a stable orbit around a common center of mass
- lambda dgal
- A lambda phage carrying a gal(galactose) bacterial gene and defective (d) for some phage function.
- lambda phage
- One kind (species) of temperate bacteriophage.
- lampbrush chromosomes
- Chromosomes of amphibian oocytes having loops suggestive of a lampbrush. Large chromosomes found in amphibian eggs, with lateral DNA loops, extending from chromomeres, producing a brushlike appearance under the microscope.
- LAN
- Local Area Network. A network of devices (computers, printers, hubs) occupying a small area. Usually LANs do not span more than one building. LANs are very fast compared to WANs.
- LANDFILL GAS
- Gas generated by the natural degrading and decomposition of municipal solid waste by anaerobic microorganisms in sanitary landfills. The gases produced, carbon dioxide and methane, can be collected by a series of low-level pressure wells and can be processed…
- Langoustine
- The French name for the Dublin Bay prawn (which isn't actually a prawn at all, but a small lobster, Nephrops norvegicus). It's also known as Norway lobster and is sometimes called scampi. (Scampi has also become a widely used name referring to tail pieces of…
- LANmodem
- A LAN Modem is used to connect multiple computers to some other network (eg. ISP) over a phone line. It has the hub functionality built in.
- Lanolin
- An emollient with moisturizing properties and an emulsifier with high water absorbing capabilities.
- Lard
- Rendered and clarified pork fat, lard is a fine white fat that's less used these days because of its high animal-fat content. It's used particularly for slow cooking, but also for deep-frying, and it's said to make the best crisp, flaky pastry.
- Lardons
- Lardons are small, chunky cubes of bacon (smoked or unsmoked) used to flavour dishes such as quiches. They can also be fried and scattered in salads. They're often sweated with onions as a base for soups or stews. They give a good salty depth of flavour to…
- Large Magellanic Cloud
- an irregular galaxy that orbits the Milky Way Galaxy
- largo
- larghetto Very slow tempo; less slow than largo.
- Lasagne
- Rectangular sheets of Italian pasta, about the size of a standard envelope. The baked dish that incorporates them is also called lasagne and is usually prepared with alternate layers of Bolognese sauce, lasagne sheets and béchamel sauce, topped with grated…
- LASER
- A very intense, uniform beam of electromagnetic radiation. Acronym for Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation.
- Lassi
- A traditional Indian drink that used to be made from buttermilk poured into earthenware crocks, with salt added to help combat dehydration in the hot climate. It's now made from thin yoghurt, often sweetened with sugar or rosewater or sometimes spiced with…
- last quarter
- the phase of the moon three-quarters of the way around its orbit from new moon; the western half is illuminated
- LATENT HEAT
- A change in the heat content that occurs without a corresponding change in temperature, usually accompanied by a change of state (as from liquid to vapor during evaporation).
- LATENT LOAD
- The cooling load caused by moisture in the air.
- lateral inhibition
- The signal produced by one cell that prevents adjacent cells from acquiring their fate.
- latitude
- the angular distance north or south from the equator to a point on Earth's surface, measured on the meridian of the point
- LATITUDE
- The angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees of arc.
- LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS
- The theory of probability on which the business of insurance is based. Simply put, this mathematical premise says that the larger the group of units insured, such as sport-utility vehicles, the more accurate the predictions of loss will be.
- Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- A person who has immigrated legally but is not an American citizen. This person has been admitted to the U.S. as an immigrant and has a green card. This person is also called a legal permanent resident, a green card holder, a permanent resident alien, a…
- Lawful Permanent Resident Alien (LPRA)
- Lawful permanent resident.
- lawn
- A continuous layer of bacteria on the surface of an agar medium.
- LAY UP
- Lay up is another term for cold storage and describes the status of equipment (such as a power plant) that has been placed in storage ("mothballed") for latter use.
- Lay Worker
- A person who works in a religious organization but is not a member of the formal clergy.
- LAYOFF (Electric utility)
- Excess capacity of a generating unit, available for a limited time under the terms of a power sales agreement.
- LEA
- See local educational agency.
- LEADED GASOLINE
- Gasoline containing tetraethyl lead, an important constituent in antiknock gasoline. Leaded gasoline is no longer sold in the United States.
- leader peptide gene
- A small gene within the attenuator control region of repressible amino acid operons. Translation of a specific leader peptide tests for the concentration of a specific amino acid or set of amino acids in the cell. If the concentration is high transcription…
- leader sequence
- The sequence at the 5' end of an mRNA that is not translated into protein. The length of untranslated mRNA from the 5' end to the initiation codon AUG.
- leader transcript
- The mRNA transcribed by the attenuator region of repressible amino acid operons. The transcript is capable of several alternative stem-loop structures dependent on translation of a short leader peptide gene.
- leading strand
- Strand of DNA being replicated continuously. In DNA replication, the strand that is made in the 5' to 3' direction by continuous polymerization at the 3' growing tip. See also lagging strand.
- leaky mutant
- A mutant (typically an auxotroph) that results from a partial rather than a complete inactivation of the wild-type function.
- Leased line
- A dedicated communication line. User is charged a flat fee instead of being billed per minute of usage.
- leg-of-mutton sleeve
- (Also known as a gigot sleeve) a loose, full sleeve, rounded from the shoulder to just below the elbow, then shaped to the arm, often ending in a point at the wrist.
- Legal Term Accounting Information
- Stock Certificate Information: A stock certificate is the paper or documentary evidence of stock ownership as printed and issued by the corporation.
- Legal Term Banking Information
- Letter of Credit Information: A letter of credit is a document that is issued by a bank guaranteeing the account of a person up to a certain limit and for a definite period of time. The letter of credit can be shown to other lenders as proof of…
- Legal Terms Immigration
- Immigration information: Entering a country with the idea of staying there permanently, and becoming a citizen.
- Legal Terms Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Immigration and Naturalization Service information: The agency charged with supervising the process by which immigrants are allowed into the United States, remain the in country, and become citizens.
- Legal Terms Immunity
- Immunity information: A promise made to a defendant in a criminal law setting such that no further prosecution will be done against said defendant in exchange for cooperation or testimony against others. Further, if granted immunity, the defendant may be…
- Legal Terms Impeach
- Impeach information: The bringing of a formal charge against an office holder. Also, impeach refers to a goal of cross examination of a witness, whereby the bias, or lack of veracity of a witness is elicited, thus impeaching the witnesses credibility.
- Legal Terms Impleader
- Impleader information: A pleading that brings into existing litigation a third party that may be able to give relief.
- Legal Terms Implicate
- Implicate information: To give information tending to show that another person was involved in a crime.
- Legal Terms Implied Warranty
- Implied Warranty information: The warranty that arises simply because the goods were sold, that they are fit for the particular purpose intended. This warranty exists regardless of specific guarantees given.
- Legal Terms Implied Warranty of Habitability
- Implied Warranty of Habitability information: The warranty that arises simply because the house or rental premises are let, that they are suitable for living in.
- Legal Terms Imprison
- Imprison information: To confine or put in prison. A legal restraint of liberty.
- Legal Terms Impugn
- Impugn information: To insult by calling into question the quality of a person's character.