See Also: Lady, The(dictionary)
Our Lady(dictionary)
first lady(dictionary)
lady's man(dictionary)
first lady(encyclopedia)
lady(dictionary)
m'lady(dictionary)
old lady(dictionary)
Lady Day(dictionary)
Lady(medicine)

lady (oh)



[C]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hlAfdige, from hlaf 'bread' + -dige 'one who kneads']
a) a woman of a particular type or age
young/old/elderly etc lady
b) a word meaning woman, used especially to describe women's sports or products made for women
ladies' team/champion/championship etc
::the ladies' darts team
ladies' fashion/clothing/shoes etc
::ladies' underwear
c) old-fashioned a word meaning woman, used in order to be polite
-see also gentleman gentleman
::The young lady at reception sent me up here.
::Give your coat to the lady over there.
lady doctor/lawyer etc
(=a polite word, which many women find offensive, for a woman doctor, lawyer, etc)
a woman who is polite and behaves very well
-see also gentleman gentleman
::She knows how to behave like a lady.
Lady
used as the title of the wife or daughter of a British nobleman or the wife of a knight
::Lady Spencer
the ladies
a) BrE a women's toilet
American Equivalent: ladies' room -see also the gents' the gents'
b) a word meaning women, often used humorously
::His boyish good looks made him a favourite with the ladies.
-see also ladies' man
ladies
spoken formal used to speak to a group of women
::Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?
a woman, especially one with a strong character - used to show approval
::She can be a tough lady to negotiate with.
lady friend
a woman that a man is having a romantic relationship with - often used humorously
-synonym girlfriend girlfriend
::I saw Chris with his new lady friend.
lady 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?
AmE 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?
Our Lady
an expression used to mean Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ
the lady of the house
old-fashioned the most important woman in a house, usually the mother of a family
old-fashioned a woman born into a high social class in Britain
::I could see the Queen, surrounded by her lords and ladies.
old-fashioned a man's wife
::the captain and his lady
-see also bag lady , cleaning lady at cleaning , first lady , leading lady at leading 1 , lollipop lady , old lady , young lady at young 1 (3)