| lieutenant governor |
in the United States, an elected official of a state who ranks just below the governor and who assumes the governor's position in the event of the latter's absence or death. [2 definitions] |
| lieutenant junior grade |
an officer in the U.S. Navy whose rank is above that of ensign and below that of lieutenant. |
| life |
the state of being that allows humans and animals to grow and reproduce and that distinguishes them from rocks, minerals, and other nonliving matter. [11 definitions] |
| life belt |
a life preserver that fastens around a person's waist like a belt. |
| lifeblood |
the blood essential to life. [2 definitions] |
| lifeboat |
a ship's boat designed for rapid rescue of persons, or a similar boat used from shore. |
| life buoy |
a buoyant ring-shaped device usu. kept on boats, used to keep a person afloat until he or she can be rescued. |
| life cycle |
the continuous changes undergone by an organism in its development from its earliest stage until it is able to reproduce. [2 definitions] |
| life expectancy |
the statistically predicted length of time that an individual of any species can be expected to live. |
| life force |
see "élan vital." |
| life form |
a living, or once living, organism. |
| life-giving |
able to give life; revitalizing; refreshing; inspiring. |
| lifeguard |
a person employed to watch over a swimming area and rescue anyone who might be drowning. |
| life history |
the history of changes undergone by an organism in the course of its lifetime from conception to death. [3 definitions] |
| life insurance |
insurance that guarantees payment of a specific sum to a named beneficiary upon the death of the insured or to a policyholder who reaches a certain specified age. |
| life jacket |
a life preserver in the form of a sleeveless vest or jacket; life vest. |
| lifeless |
having or appearing to have no life; inanimate; unconscious. [3 definitions] |
| lifelike |
closely resembling or simulating real life. |
| lifeline |
an anchored line or rope thrown to support a person in danger of drowning or falling. [5 definitions] |
| lifelong |
continuing throughout the whole of one's life. |
| life net |
a strong net used by firefighters or others to catch people forced to jump from a burning building. |