ladyla‧dy /ˈleɪdi/ ●●● S1 W2 noun (plural ladies) [countable] 
the ladies’ darts teamladies’ fashion/clothing/shoes etc ladies’ underwear c)a word meaning woman, used in order to be polite: The young lady at reception sent me up here. Give your coat to the lady over there.lady doctor/lawyer etc (=a doctor, lawyer etc who is a woman. Some women think this use is offensive)► see thesaurus at womanRegisterLady often sounds old-fashioned, especially when it is used about younger women. In everyday English, people usually say woman:· His cousin is a 26-year-old woman who works in a kindergarten.2a woman who is polite and behaves very well: She knows how to behave like a lady.3Lady used as the title of the wife or daughter of a British nobleman or the wife of a knight: Lady Spencer4the ladies a)British English a women’s toilet SYN ladies’ room American English b)a word meaning women, often used humorously: His boyish good looks made him a favourite with the ladies. → ladies' man5ladies spoken formal used to speak to a group of women: Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?6a woman, especially one with a strong character – used to show approval: She can be a tough lady to negotiate with.7lady friend a woman that a man is having a romantic relationship with – often used humorously SYN girlfriend: I saw Chris with his new lady friend.8lady of leisure a woman who does not work and has a lot of free time – used humorously: So you’re a lady of leisure now that the kids are at school?9American English spoken used when talking directly to a woman you do not know, when you are angry with her: Hey, lady, would you mind getting out of my way?RegisterAddressing a woman directly as lady sounds rude. In polite American English, people use Miss or Ma'am instead: · Can I help you, Miss?10Our Lady an expression used to mean Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ11the lady of the house old-fashioned the most important woman in a house, usually the mother of a family12old-fashioned a woman born into a high social class in Britain: I could see the Queen, surrounded by her lords and ladies.13old-fashioned a man’s wife: the captain and his lady → bag lady, → cleaning lady at cleaning, first lady, → leading lady at leading1, lollipop lady, old lady, → young lady at young1(3)
WORD ORIGINlady
Origin:
Old English hlæfdige, from hlaf ‘bread’ + -dige ‘one who kneads’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome you here tonight.
- Ella is the elderly lady who lives next door.
- It was a present from a lady I worked for.
- Sharon can be a tough lady to negotiate with.
- Sheila always tries to be a lady.
- the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union
- The young lady behind the counter asked if I needed any help.
- There's a lady here who wants to speak to you about her account.
THESAURUS
a female adult person: · a young woman with dark brown hair
a polite word for a woman – used especially when you do not know the woman, or when the person you are talking to does not know the woman: · A glass of white wine please, for this lady here.· The young lady stood up and shook my hand.
a young female person – usually used about someone younger than about twenty: · a very pretty girl· teenage girls
formal a woman – used especially when you are giving information about women, for example in formal surveys and reports: · Females account for 46% of Internet users.
Longman Language Activatora toilet/rest room British a room containing a toilet: · "Where's the toilet?" "Downstairs on the right."men's/women's/ladies' toilets: · There's a huge queue in the ladies' toilets.public toilets: · Pat refuses to use the public toilets in this country because they are always so dirty.
a toilet, especially in someone's house: · The bathroom is next to Jack's room.· "Can I use your bathroom?" "Sure, go ahead."
British informal /john American informal a toilet: · Where's the loo?· Tony's in the john. He'll be back in a minute.· It's a good pub, but the bogs are terrible!
American the toilets in a public place: · Do you have restrooms here?· There's no paper in the washroom.
British /the men's room American the men's toilets in a public place: · Can you tell me where the men's room is please?· "Where's Kevin?" "He went to the gents."
British /the ladies' room American the women's toilets in a public place: · Wait for me outside. I'm going to the ladies.· The ladies' room is just around the corner.
formal a toilet: · Even the lavatory was luxurious, with a marble interior and soft, white hand towels. public lavatory: · The public lavatories are situated on the other side of the beach.
especially British, written a toilet - used especially in written information about buildings: · All our holiday apartments have a double bedroom, small kitchen, bathroom, and WC.
a woman a female adult: · Rebecca Stephens was the first British woman to climb Mount Everest.· Who's that woman you were talking to just now?· In some African countries, the women do most of the agricultural work.
a polite word for a woman, especially a woman who is there when you are speaking about her: · There's a lady here who wants to speak to you about her account.old lady: · Ella is the elderly lady who lives next door.ladies and gentlemen (=use this when you are talking to an audience, making a speech etc): · Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome you here tonight.
a young woman: · He's going out with that girl who works in the library.· On Saturday night, the streets are full of teenage girls and boys, out for a good time.young girl: · In Britain, some young girls are choosing parenthood as an alternative to employment.
a woman who does a particular job or activity: woman writer/teacher/priest/driver etc · Mrs Thatcher was Britain's first woman prime minister.· an exciting new collection of short stories by women writers· Not long ago, the Church of England voted to ordain women priests.· Women drivers tend to be much more careful than men.policewoman/businesswoman/publicity woman etc · A young policewoman was standing at the door.· I was impressed by some of the high-flying businesswomen at the conference.
formal a female worker, teacher, singer etc is a woman or girl - use this to contrast women with men who are doing the same thing: · Emma is the only female lawyer that the firm has ever employed.· Female students tend to get better grades than male students.· In Tokyo, the number of female taxi drivers is up 75% since 1972.
a polite word, which some women may find offensive, for a woman who does an important or professional job: lady doctor/councillor etc: · I'd rather see a lady doctor, if that's possible.· The town has had a lady mayor for a couple of years now.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the ladies’ darts team ladies’ underwear a foxy lady Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
the ladies’ darts team ladies’ underwear (=a doctor, lawyer etc who is a woman. Some women think this use is offensive)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=a woman who cleans houses, offices etc as her job)
a foxy lady Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.· You must be reasonable, my dear young lady.· A dear, wonderful lady who sacrificed all for her children.· So forget all about vampires, dear ladies.· Whatever will the dear lady think of you?
· He had been able to charm more than a few elderly ladies in his time.· There was another worried elderly lady on 20 December 1884.· Like all elderly ladies, however, she needs polite attention.· I found her in a large day-room where groups of elderly ladies sat in plastic-covered armchairs.· But elderly ladies make me feel uncomfortable and our small talk petered out.· It may be decorating a flat for a housebound person, to taking care of the cat of an elderly hospitalised lady.· John Hutt fled down the small village main street, narrowly missing two elderly ladies.· An elderly lady in doubtful health, she was terrified, particularly when the calls continued after her unlisted number was changed.
· They were three small, fat ladies, and a great source of amusement to Jerry and me.· The fat lady gave his shoulder a slap and he was off, moving tipsily in the direction of Hard.· The seat on my left was occupied by a fat lady who was busy peeling an orange.· But the fat lady left me in peace.· He'd shifted a lot of linen, some bags of which weighed in like a circus fat lady.· The fat lady was shut inside her room.· It belonged to a fat old lady and her pretty daughter.· So now, investors hope the fat lady sings an aria, not a tragic opera.
· Susannah York was a young up-and-coming leading lady who had a major part in the film.· This had some value, leading old ladies to get up and give me their seat on public transport.· Does she have the muscle to become a leading lady in her own right?· He invariably falls in love with his leading ladies.· She was one of his favourite leading ladies.· The director and his former leading lady took action after a court ruled the case could be televised.· He never married Tarita, his leading lady in Mutiny on the Bounty, but she did give him two children.· Barbara Knox, who plays Rita, is clearly considered the Street's leading mourning lady.
· I walk into my dining room at 9.26 this morning, just to say my goodbyes to the little lady.· A sweetheart, this little lady, not bad legs either.· Cranston, who was frightened of nothing on two legs, seemed terrified of his little lady wife.· From now on, little old ladies will have to find their own way across the street.· This gentle little lady would sit down and suffer at his side.· They had the faces of little old ladies who habitually attack policemen.· I shall be a bitter-looking little old lady with no muscle tone, she thought, and re-dialled Lucy.· I shuddered when I heard the names: old hen, biddy, little old lady in tennis shoes.
· She hadn't known Mr Arkwright was thinking of getting married; and what a lovely young lady!· Everyone was angry with me for what I had done to this lovely old lady.· He looked at the lovely stately lady with kindness and she at him, and they began to talk.· They sent her to London for elocution lessons and she grew into a lovely young lady.· He thought the lovely young lady was the goddess of the island.· I remember a lovely lady who attended my slimming club years ago.
· She also wanted to know if he was dead or alive, just out of general interest. Nice lady.· I cleaned up the house as best I could, and hired a couple of nice ladies to handle the heavy lifting.· A very nice lady at the town hall explained that there's no appeal and consequently I have no vote.· She is a nice enough lady whose husband is a lieutenant colonel, U. S. Army, retired.· He was obviously not taking Miss Farquar seriously, a nice lady who seemed to really love him.· She a real nice old lady.· Therese said Miss Grimsilk was a very nice lady who is at present a trifle unhappy.· Really, a nice lady: Tonellis helping Tonellis.
· She's one of the old ladies I go to see for my Community Care Course.· When his son became an official in town, he left his old lady at home like some kind of grass widow.· I've met old ladies who are just as turned on as young girls.· A little old lady on the sidewalk looks up, her eyes filled with alarm.· The old lady was in raptures over him, however.· Take, for example, little old ladies prone to cute, feisty one-liners.· It was a little grey-haired old lady, propped up on cushions and staring intently at something Meg couldn't see.· Gordy aimed his trumpet across the river and blew. Old lady Gammon spit a jet of water out of her mouth.
· The shimmering water of the lake looked magical, and there were young men rowing their young ladies around it in boats.· The villain has to die repentant before the young lady can marry the upright engineer.· Time you knew better, young lady.· It pulls at the heartstrings of every agent out there to see a young lady or anyone jeopardized by these conditions.· There was only one young lady it could conceivably be; and yet was that possible?· Frank seemed to have scored with the young lady too - some things never change.· She went with a young lady ... to a small office where the documents were laid out for signing.· The young lady doctor had said ten minutes, but they must have been here twenty.
NOUN· She practised being a bag lady.· In fact, I've always wanted to play a realistic, no make-up, bag lady.
· All staff were interviewed, including the cleaner, dinner lady and students.· He made the short journey to sample the fare of the proud dinner ladies from Wheatley Park School.
· You had two tables, the second one to accommodate your lady friends.· Bringing one of your lady friends?· They had hired two massive and attractive, expensive houses, and were accompanied by two attractive and expensive lady friends.· Henry had just come in with his new lady friend, Lila Sams.· They tell their lady friends, and then all secrecy is lost.· Michael Lamonte, according to his lady friend, was filming at Pinewood.· Frank had given Terence's gramophone to a lady friend, and would he please not tell Mum?· There was something about Tom's lady friend that seemed familiar and yet Joe couldn't quite place her.
VERB· Ellen Terry, Irving's leading lady, was a great-aunt.· Oh, some one always asks who my favorite leading lady was or who was the best kisser.· Questioner2 Is your decision to take a year off anything to do with the rumours about Jeff and his present leading lady?· The females close in on him, led by some old lady dolphin who has obviously had much practice at settling sharks.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► ladiesPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the first lady► somebody’s old lady► it’s not over until the fat lady sings
1 a)a woman of a particular type or ageyoung/old/elderly etc lady b)a word meaning woman, used especially to describe women’s sports or products made for womenladies’ team/champion/championship etc- Henry had just come in with his new lady friend.
- Bringing one of your lady friends?
- Frank had given Terence's gramophone to a lady friend, and would he please not tell Mum?
- Henry had just come in with his new lady friend, Lila Sams.
- Michael Lamonte, according to his lady friend, was filming at Pinewood.
- There was something about Tom's lady friend that seemed familiar and yet Joe couldn't quite place her.
- They had hired two massive and attractive, expensive houses, and were accompanied by two attractive and expensive lady friends.
- They tell their lady friends, and then all secrecy is lost.
- You had two tables, the second one to accommodate your lady friends.
- So you're a lady of leisure now that the kids are at school?
- Grace, the sacraments, the church is divine, Our Lady, the saints, etc.
- I had a vision of Our Lady.
- Perhaps by name: Our Lady.
- That this fact was well appreciated by civil and ecclesiastical authorities is illustrated by the history of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.
- Why did you say it was Our Lady we saw?
- And the lady of the house hugs you and laughs, and takes you to the sea to wash your face.
- Here again the lady of the house was so kind and resourceful.
- I don't know what he said to the lady of the house, but we were not invited to return.
- Then the lady of the house calls them to come and eat, and the sad little performance ends.
- Lady Macbeth
- The ladies' room is just around the corner.
- Wait for me outside. I'm going to the ladies.
- As a young man, Francis had an eye for the ladies, until he became gravely ill.
- Back in the kitchen the ladies whispered together, then asked me how much I paid Chutra.
- He advised the ladies to walk towards the town and wait for the men at the first hotel.
- He disappears from Grimworth, and the ladies there learn how to do their own baking again.
- Jean had gone off to the ladies when the manageress came to lead them to their table.
- Rackam was supposedly a tall, dark-eyed, handsome man, and a great hand with the ladies.
- Some of the ladies were being helped indoors to the restaurant by the waiters.
- Sadly, morals and behaviour ashore had deteriorated too with more drunks and ladies of easy virtue in evidence.
- But being in a wheelchair doesn't stop them having fun - or falling for the leading man.
- Corbin Timbrook, a handsome leading man-type, has been tending Downtown's best bar for three years now.
- Davis became a genius by turning bit actors into leading men.
- Oh, some one always asks who my favorite leading lady was or who was the best kisser.
- Questioner2 Is your decision to take a year off anything to do with the rumours about Jeff and his present leading lady?
- The initial structure of the show had kind of a leading man figure: John Kelly.
- They came at full speed, the leading man aiming to Sharpe's left, the other pulling to his right.
- Tuesday night's opening had to be cancelled and on Wednesday night the leading lady was ill.
- As a gentleman of leisure it was a breeze.
- He is a ladies' man, causing Rosita to fall in love with him and even suggesting marriage with him.
- Old Henry Claar-my grandfather-in-law-was a ladies' man.
- There was no amorous intent about it, because Matt had assured her that Silas was not a ladies' man.
- Now, you listen to me, young man!
- He certainly got his money's worth, that young man.
- He was a very beautiful young man, a bit like a girl, perhaps - but still very good-looking.
- If Southend police could run in some young man who picked up the car on the Foulness road yesterday afternoon.
- Their captors are equally enthralled with the two young men.
- This is a young man's play, and it feels like one.
- This social and hormonal dilemma of young men was illuminated by a series of experiments with Rhesus monkeys in Atlanta.
- Was the future of the Rabari incarnate in this young man?
the ladies’ darts teamladies’ fashion/clothing/shoes etc ladies’ underwear c)a word meaning woman, used in order to be polite: The young lady at reception sent me up here. Give your coat to the lady over there.lady doctor/lawyer etc (=a doctor, lawyer etc who is a woman. Some women think this use is offensive)► see thesaurus at womanRegisterLady often sounds old-fashioned, especially when it is used about younger women. In everyday English, people usually say woman:· His cousin is a 26-year-old woman who works in a kindergarten.2a woman who is polite and behaves very well: She knows how to behave like a lady.3Lady used as the title of the wife or daughter of a British nobleman or the wife of a knight: Lady Spencer4the ladies a)British English a women’s toilet SYN ladies’ room American English b)a word meaning women, often used humorously: His boyish good looks made him a favourite with the ladies. → ladies' man5ladies spoken formal used to speak to a group of women: Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?6a woman, especially one with a strong character – used to show approval: She can be a tough lady to negotiate with.7lady friend a woman that a man is having a romantic relationship with – often used humorously SYN girlfriend: I saw Chris with his new lady friend.8lady of leisure a woman who does not work and has a lot of free time – used humorously: So you’re a lady of leisure now that the kids are at school?9American English spoken used when talking directly to a woman you do not know, when you are angry with her: Hey, lady, would you mind getting out of my way?RegisterAddressing a woman directly as lady sounds rude. In polite American English, people use Miss or Ma'am instead: · Can I help you, Miss?10Our Lady an expression used to mean Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ11the lady of the house old-fashioned the most important woman in a house, usually the mother of a family12old-fashioned a woman born into a high social class in Britain: I could see the Queen, surrounded by her lords and ladies.13old-fashioned a man’s wife: the captain and his lady → bag lady, → cleaning lady at cleaning, first lady, → leading lady at leading1, lollipop lady, old lady, → young lady at young1(3)