L

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L1 / el/ (also l) • n. (pl. Ls or L's) 1. the twelfth letter of the alphabet. ∎  denoting the next after K in a set of items, categories, etc.2. (L) a shape like that of a capital L: [in combination] a four-story L-shaped building. 3. the Roman numeral for 50. [ORIGIN: originally a symbol identified with the letter L, because of coincidence of form. In ancient Roman notation, L with a stroke above denoted 50,000.]L2 • abbr. ∎  (in tables of sports results) games lost. ∎  Chem. levorotatory: L-tryptophan. ∎  (L.) Lake, Loch, or Lough (chiefly on maps): L. Ontario. ∎  large (as a clothes size). ∎  Latin. ∎  Liberal. ∎  (L.) Linnaeus (as the source of names of animal and plant species): Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio machaon (L., 1758). ∎  lire.• symb. ∎  Chem. Avogadro's number. ∎  Physics inductance.

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