lithium-ion battery
A form of rechargeable battery containing lithium compounds, but not elemental lithium, used in many consumer electronics devices.
Entries starting with L
303 entries.
lithobraking
Deceleration of a falling object due to impact with the ground.
lithogeochemistry
The scientific study of the composition, structure, properties and reactions of stone and mineral from the earth.
lithographic
adjectiveIndustrial printing
Related to the method of lithography.
little black dress
A simply cut and often quite short evening or cocktail dress.
Littrow prism
A retroreflecting dispersing prism arranged so that an incident light beam entering at Brewster's angle undergoes minimal deviation and hence maximum dispersion.
live conductor
Any conductor carrying electrical current.
live load
Temporary load that the roof structure must be designed to support, as required by governing building codes. Live loads are generally moving and/or dynamic or environmental (e.g. people, installation equipment, snow, ice or rain).
live wire
An electrical wire through which there is a flow of electrical current.
livestock unit
A unit of measure for assessing the overall effect on grazing land of different types of animal.
living fence
A natural boundary formed by densely planting shrubs, trees, or vines in order to create a functional barrier.
living mulch
A cover crop interplanted or undersown with the main crop, and intended to fulfil the functions of a mulch, such as weed suppression and regulation of soil temperature.
LLO
Initialism of low lunar orbit.
LM
Initialism of liquid methane.
LMC
nameRail equipment
The station code of Lok Ma Chau in Hong Kong.
LNA
Initialism of low noise amplifier.
LNG
Initialism of liquefied natural gas.
LO
Initialism of local oscillator.
load
Any component that draws current or power from an electrical circuit.
load bank
A piece of electrical test equipment used to simulate an electrical load, to test an electric power source without connecting it to its normal operating load.
load factor
The mean load over a given time period divided by the peak load occurring during the same time period, providing a measure of how efficiently an electric system's capacity is being used.
load voltage
The voltage that is able to be supplied by a power source to be consumed by the electrical load.
loading bank
A platform, often with a ramp at one or both ends, provided in a railway goods yard for the purpose of loading and unloading goods wagons.
loading gauge
A physical structure, often a metal frame above a railroad track, to check the maximum height and width of a vehicle.
loam
nounMetalworking
A mixture of sand, clay, and other materials, used in making moulds for large castings, often without a pattern.
LOC
Initialism of loss of control.
local loop
The physical link or circuit that connects from the demarcation point of the customer premises to the edge of the common carrier or telecommunications service provider's network.
locator
The unique alphanumeric reference given to each travel booking.
lock off
To turn in the warp thread or strands of a piece of cloth when finished to stop strands unravelling.
lock up
To stop moving; to seize.
locker loop
A small band on the back of a shirt, by which it can be hung up.
locking differential
nounAutomotive
A kind of automotive differential that provides increased traction by restricting each of the two wheels on an axle to the same rotational speed without regard to available traction or differences in resistance seen at each wheel.
locking frame
nounRail equipment
A frame for interlocking in a signal box, normally located in the locking room, which is operated by a lever frame in the operating room above it.
locking room
nounRail equipment
A room in a signal box, usually at ground level beneath the operating room, containing the interlocking mechanism for signals and points (track switches) below the lever frame in the operating room.
locking shift
A state-dependent encoding mechanism used in data communication (such as GSM SMS) and character encoding standards to switch between different character sets or windows.
lockshield
nounPlumbing
A kind of radiator valve used to balance the system by restricting the flow of water on the return side.
lockstitch
A stitch made by a sewing machine in which two threads are interlocked.
lockup
A condition in which one or more of a vehicle's wheels suddenly cease to rotate due to the application of excessive brake torque, causing the affected wheel(s) to skid.
locomotive
nounRail equipment
The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
lode
A vein of metallic ore that lies within definite boundaries, or within a fissure.
lodestuff
The material found in a lode, including gangue and ore.
lodge
The space at the mouth of a level next to the shaft, widened to permit wagons to pass, or ore to be deposited for hoisting; called also platt.
lodging
The condition of a plant, especially a cereal, that has been flattened in the field or damaged so that it cannot stand upright, as by weather conditions or because the stem is not strong enough to support the plant.
LOF
nounAutomotive
Initialism of lube, oil and filter (change).
LOFR
nounAutomotive
Initialism of lube, oil and filter (change) and (tyre) rotation.
loft
The thickness of a soft object when not under pressure.
lofting
Lagging or longitudinal timber resting on caps to support the roof of a working.
log
A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.
logging railroad
nounRail equipment
A railroad built for the purpose of transporting logs out of a forest.
logic high
In binary logic, one of the two levels that a signal can have.
logic level
One of a finite number of states (usually two) that a digital signal can have.
logic low
In binary logic, one of the two levels that a signal can have.
LOI
Initialism of lunar orbit insertion: NASA terminology for a spacecraft maneuver to enter into orbit around the Moon.
loiter
For an aircraft to remain in the air near a target.
lollipop
To prune the lower branches of a tree or other plant so that new growth appears only at the top, where more light is received.
London bus
An informal approximate unit of measure used in England.
long and short stitch
A pattern of alternating long and short stitches.
long block
An engine subassembly that consists of the assembled short block, plus the crankshaft, cylinder head, camshaft (usually), and valve train.
long Tom
A device formerly used in California for washing gold from the earth or mineral spoil with which it is excavated. It is a sloping wooden trough which widens at the lower end.
long-grain
adjectiveWoodworking
Of woodgrain, where the grain runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the piece of wood.