lord

noun

/lɔːd/

/lɔːrd/

Idioms

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[countable] (in the UK) a man of high rank in the nobility (= people of high social class), or somebody who has been given the title ‘lord’ as an honour compare lady
- She's married to a lord.
- The head of the successful construction group became a lord in 1984.
- They entered a huge hall filled with lords and ladies.
Topics People in societyb2
Lord
(in the UK) the title used by a lord
- Lord Beaverbrook
- He was made a peer and took the title Lord Northcliffe.
Lord
a title used for some high official positions in the UK
- the Lord Chancellor
- the Lord Mayor
- Lord Justice Slade
see also Sea Lord
My Lord
(in the UK) a title of respect used when speaking to a judge, bishop or some male members of the nobility (= people of high social class) compare lady
a powerful man in medieval Europe, who owned a lot of land and property
- a feudal lord
- the lord of the manor
see also drug lord, overlord, warlord
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- great
- noble
- feudal
- …
verb + lord
- serve
lord + verb
- rule somebody/something
See full entry
(usually the Lord)
[singular] a title used to refer to God or Christ
- Love the Lord with all your heart.
Our Lord
[singular] a title used to refer to Christ
the Lords
(also House of Lords)
[singular + singular or plural verb] (in the UK) the part of Parliament whose members are not elected by the people of the country
- The Lords has/have not yet reached a decision.
see also the Law Lords
the Lords
(also House of Lords)
[singular] the building where members of the House of Lords meet

Word OriginOld English hlāford, from hlāfweard ‘bread-keeper’, from a Germanic base (see loaf (noun), ward). Compare with lady.

Idioms

(as) drunk as a lord (old-fashioned, British English)

(North American English (as) drunk as a skunk)

(informal) very drunk

(good) Lord! | oh Lord! exclamation

used to show that you are surprised, annoyed or worried about something
- Good Lord, what have you done to your hair!

Lord knows…

used to emphasize what you are saying
- Lord knows, I tried to teach her.

Lord (only) knows (what, where, why, etc.)…

(informal) used to say that you do not know the answer to something
- ‘Why did she say that?’ ‘Lord knows!’
Some people may find the use of Lord in these expressions offensive.

year of grace | year of our Lord

(formal) any particular year after the birth of Christ

lord

verb

/lɔːd/

/lɔːrd/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they lord	/lɔːd/ /lɔːrd/
he / she / it lords	/lɔːdz/ /lɔːrdz/
past simple lorded	/ˈlɔːdɪd/ /ˈlɔːrdɪd/
past participle lorded	/ˈlɔːdɪd/ /ˈlɔːrdɪd/
-ing form lording	/ˈlɔːdɪŋ/ /ˈlɔːrdɪŋ/

Idioms

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Idioms

lord it over somebody

(disapproving) to act as if you are better or more important than somebody
- A good manager does not try to lord it over his or her team.