<B>leucine, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Biochemistry.) a white, crystalline amino acid produced in several ways, especially by the digestion of proteins by the pancreatic enzymes. Leucine is essential in nutrition. </DL>
<A NAME="leucite">
<B>leucite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a white or grayish mineral, a silicate of potassium and aluminum, found in certain volcanic rocks. </DL>
<A NAME="leucitic">
<B>leucitic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or like leucite. </DL>
<A NAME="leuco">
<B>leuco, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Chemistry.) of or designating a colorless or slightly colored substance formed by the reduction of a dye. It can be reconverted into the dye by the action of oxidizing agents. <BR> <I>Ex. a leuco base.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="leuco">
<B>leuco-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) white; without color. <BR> <I>Ex. Leucocyte = a white corpuscle or blood cell.</I> <DL COMPACT><DD> Also, <B>leuko-.</B> </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="leucocidin">
<B>leucocidin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a substance produced by staphylococci and certain other bacteria, that destroys white blood cells. </DL>
<A NAME="leucocyte">
<B>leucocyte, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> one of the tiny, colorless cells in the blood that has a nucleus and destroys disease germs; white blood cell; white corpuscle. Normal blood contains five recognized types, the neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte. Also, <B>leukocyte.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="leucocytemediator">
<B>leucocyte mediator,</B> =leumedin.</DL>
<A NAME="leucocythaemia">
<B>leucocythaemia</B> or <B>leucocythemia, </B>noun. =leukemia.</DL>
<A NAME="leucocytic">
<B>leucocytic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with leucocytes. <DD><B> 2. </B>characterized by an excess of leucocytes. Also, <B>leukocytic.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="leucocytosis">
<B>leucocytosis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an increase in the number of leucocytes or white blood cells. </DL>
<A NAME="leucocytotic">
<B>leucocytotic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with leucocytosis. </DL>
<A NAME="leucocytozooninfection">
<B>leucocytozoon infection,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a blood disease of domestic and wild birds, caused by an infection with a parasitic protozoan. </DL>
<A NAME="leucoderma">
<B>leucoderma, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> unnatural whiteness or white patches in the skin due to a deficiency of pigment. </DL>
<A NAME="leucodermic">
<B>leucodermic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or like leucoderma. </DL>
<B>leucoma, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a white opacity in the cornea of the eye, caused by inflammation, a wound, etc. </DL>
<A NAME="leucomaine">
<B>leucomaine, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Biochemistry.) any one of a group of poisonous basic substances normally formed in living animal tissue as metabolic products. </DL>
<A NAME="leucopenia">
<B>leucopenia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an abnormal decrease in the number of leucocytes or white blood cells. </DL>
<A NAME="leucoplast">
<B>leucoplast, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Botany.) one of the colorless plastids in the cytoplasm of plant cells that functions in the formation and storage of starch. </DL>
<A NAME="leucoplastid">
<B>leucoplastid, </B>noun. =leucoplast.</DL>
<A NAME="leucopoiesis">
<B>leucopoiesis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the production of leucocytes or white blood corpuscles. </DL>
<A NAME="leucorrhea">
<B>leucorrhea</B> or <B>leucorrhoea, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a whitish discharge of mucus or pus from the female genital organs. </DL>
<A NAME="leucosis">
<B>leucosis, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ses.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a virus disease of poultry, often characterized by paralysis, swelling of the liver and spleen, poor bone formation, blindness, or leukemia. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=leukemia.</B> Also, <B>leukosis.</B> </DL>
<B>leucotomy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mies.</B> =lobotomy.</DL>
<A NAME="leud">
<B>leud, </B>noun, pl. <B>leuds,</B> <B>leudes.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a vassal in the Frankish kingdoms during the Middle Ages. </DL>
<A NAME="leuk">
<B>leuk-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) the form of <B>leuko-</B> before vowels. </DL>
<A NAME="leukemia">
<B>leukemia</B> or <B>leukaemia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a rare, usually fatal, disease characterized by a large excess of white blood cells. It is a kind of cancer. In some types there is an enlargement of the spleen, the lymph nodes, and other organs. Also, <B>leucemia.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="leukemic">
<B>leukemic</B> or <B>leukaemic, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with leukemia. <DD><I>noun </I> a person having leukemia. </DL>
<B>leukodystrophy, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a genetic disorder, often fatal, characterized by the progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain. Also, <B>leucodystrophy.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="leukoplakia">
<B>leukoplakia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a condition of the mouth and throat marked by the presence of small white nodules or patches, that may become malignant. </DL>
<A NAME="leukosis">
<B>leukosis, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ses.</B> =leucosis.</DL>
<A NAME="leumedin">
<B>leumedin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a drug which is thought to prevent the passage of white blood cells through the walls of the circulatory system. <BR> <I>Ex. Scientists have evidence ... that leumedins somehow keep a set of receptor molecules from jutting out of the leucocyte's surface (Wall Street Journal).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="lev">
<B>lev, </B>noun, pl. <B>leva.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the unit of money of Bulgaria, a coin equal to 100 stotinki. </DL>
<A NAME="lev">
<B>lev-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) the form of <B>levo-</B> before vowels, as in <I>levarterenol.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="lev">
<B>Lev.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Leviticus (book of the Old Testament). </DL>
<A NAME="levalloisian">
<B>Levalloisian, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Anthropology.) of, having to do with, or characteristic of an early period in man's culture characterized by a new method of making stone tools and weapons by flaking. </DL>
<A NAME="levallorphan">
<B>levallorphan, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a white, odorless, crystalline powder, used as an antidote to morphine poisoning. </DL>
<A NAME="levan">
<B>levan, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a naturally occurring polysaccharide of fructose, found in the leaves of various grasses. </DL>
<A NAME="levant">
<B>Levant, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the countries about the eastern Mediterranean Sea from Greece to Egypt, especially Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Obsolete.) the East; Orient. </DL>
<B>levant</B> (2), intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to run away or abscond, especially to avoid paying debts. </DL>
<A NAME="levantdollar">
<B>Levant dollar,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an Austrian silver dollar used in trade, bearing the image of Maria Theresa, first issued in Austria and still made for circulation in the Near East. </DL>
<A NAME="levanter">
<B>Levanter</B> or <B>levanter</B> (1), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a strong and raw easterly wind on the Mediterranean, associated especially with the Strait of Gibraltar and with the channel between Spain and Morocco. </DL>
<A NAME="levanter">
<B>levanter</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who levants. </DL>
<A NAME="levantine">
<B>levantine, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a sturdy, twilled silk cloth. </DL>
<A NAME="levantine">
<B>Levantine, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of the Levant. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person born or living in the Levant. <DD><B> 2. </B>a ship of the Levant. </DL>
<A NAME="levantmorocco">
<B>Levant morocco,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large-grained morocco of finest quality, used in bookbinding. </DL>
<A NAME="levantwormseed">
<B>Levant wormseed,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an Asiatic shrub of the composite family cultivated in the western United States and in Russia. Its dried flower heads are a source of santonin and limonene. </DL>
<A NAME="levapad">
<B>levapad, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a device for supporting an air cushion vehicle, consisting of a perforated flat plate through which air up to 100 pounds per square inch is forced under pressure. </DL>
<A NAME="levarterenol">
<B>levarterenol, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> levorotatory norepinephrine, a crystalline compound found in the adrenal glands and synthesized for use as a vasoconstrictor. </DL>
<A NAME="levator">
<B>levator, </B>noun, pl. <B>levatores.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a muscle that raises some part of the body, such as the one that opens the eye. <DD><B> 2. </B>a surgical instrument used to raise a depressed part of the skull. </DL>
<A NAME="levee">
<B>levee</B> (1), noun, verb, <B>leveed,</B> <B>leveeing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a bank built to keep a river from overflowing. <BR> <I>Ex. There are levees in many places along the lower Mississippi River.</I> (SYN) embankment. <DD><B> 2. </B>a landing place for boats, such as a quay or pier. <DD><B> 3. </B>a raised bank along a river, occurring naturally as the result of deposits left during successive floods. <BR> <I>Ex. The Yellow River in China has high levees.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>a ridge around a piece of irrigated land. <DD><I>v.t. </I> (U.S.) to provide with a levee or levees. <BR> <I>Ex. An act to authorize the leveeing of Blue River, in Shelby County (Indiana Senate Journal).</I> </DL>
