lake

¹

[ leyk ]

noun

1. a body of fresh or salt water of considerable size, surrounded by land.
2. any similar body or pool of other liquid, as oil.

lake

²

[ leyk ]

noun

1. any of various pigments prepared from animal, vegetable, or coal-tar coloring matters by chemical or other union with metallic compounds.
2. a red pigment prepared from lac or cochineal by combination with a metallic compound.

Lake

³

[ leyk ]

noun

1. Simon, 1866–1945, U.S. engineer and naval architect.

lake

¹

/ leɪk /

noun

1. an expanse of water entirely surrounded by land and unconnected to the sea except by rivers or streams lacustrine
2. anything resembling this
3. a surplus of a liquid commodity

   a wine lake

lake

²

/ leɪk /

noun

1. a bright pigment used in textile dyeing and printing inks, produced by the combination of an organic colouring matter with an inorganic compound, usually a metallic salt, oxide, or hydroxide See also mordant
2. a red dye obtained by combining a metallic compound with cochineal

lake

/ lāk /

1. A large inland body of standing fresh or salt water. Lakes generally form in depressions, such as those created by glacial or volcanic action; they may also form when a section of a river becomes dammed or when a channel is isolated by a change in a river's course.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lake¹

before 1000; Middle English lak ( e ), lac ( e ), apparently a conflation of Old French lac, its source, Latin lacus (compare Greek lákkos, Old Irish loch, Old English, Old Saxon lagu sea, water) and Old English lacu stream, water course (compare leccan to moisten, modern dial. lake stream, channel; leach ¹ )

Origin of lake²

First recorded in 1610–20; variant of lac ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lake¹

C13: lac, via Old French from Latin lacus basin

Origin of lake²

C17: variant of lac ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (go) jump in the lake, (used as an exclamation of dismissal or impatience.)

Example Sentences

While she pleaded publicly for the safe return of her sons, they were at the bottom of a nearby lake.

From BBC

Sewage spills into England's lakes, rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023.

From BBC

Upstream, a glacial lake had formed, then suddenly burst - sending water, boulders and debris cascading down the valley and gathering speed.

From BBC

Thanks to Brown, Koch and Australia, however, the punting lake is growing.

From BBC

Beck arranged for the lake to be stocked with fish and invited neighborhood kids to a fishing derby.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basin
• lagoon
• pond
• pool
• reservoir