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Definition of lady noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lady

noun
 
 
/ˈleɪdi/
 
/ˈleɪdi/
(plural ladies)
Idioms
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  1.  
     [countable] a word used to mean ‘woman’ that some people, especially older people, consider is more polite
    • There's a lady waiting to see you.
    • an old/elderly lady
    • He was with an attractive young lady.
    • And who is this lovely lady?
    • the lady with the red hair
    • the lady in the designer dress
    • the ladies’ golf championship
    • (British English, old-fashioned) a tea lady (= a woman who serves tea in an office)
    • (North American English, approving) She's a tough lady.
    • a lady doctor/golfer
    Some people do not like many of these uses of lady and prefer to avoid them, by not mentioning a person's sex unless it is relevant or by using woman instead: a doctor/a woman doctor • There's someone waiting to see you. see also bag lady, cleaning lady, dinner lady, First Lady, dragon lady, leading lady, lollipop lady, lunch lady, old lady, painted lady, White Lady
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • elderly
    • middle-aged
    • old
    • …
    lady + noun
    • friend
    phrases
    • a lady of leisure
    • ladies who lunch
    • the lady of the house
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [countable] a woman who is polite and well educated, has excellent manners and always behaves well
    • His wife was a real lady.
    • You could at least try to behave like a lady.
    compare gentleman
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • elderly
    • middle-aged
    • old
    • …
    lady + noun
    • friend
    phrases
    • a lady of leisure
    • ladies who lunch
    • the lady of the house
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
     [countable, usually plural] (formal) used when speaking to or about a girl or woman, especially somebody you do not know
    • Can I take your coats, ladies?
    • Could I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?
  4. [singular] (especially North American English) an informal way to talk to a woman, showing a lack of respect
    • Listen, lady, don't shout at me.
  5. [countable] (old-fashioned) (in the UK) a woman belonging to a high social class
    • the lords and ladies of the court
    • a lady’s maid
    Topics People in societyb2
  6. Lady
     [countable] (in the UK) a title used by a woman who is a member of the nobility, or by somebody who has been given the title ‘lady’ as an honour. The wives and daughters of some members of the nobility and the wives of knights are also called ‘Lady’.
    • Lady Howe
    • Lady Jane Grey
    compare lord, sir
  7. a/the ladies
     [uncountable] (British English)
    (North American English ladies’ room, women's room [countable])
    a toilet for women in a public building or place
    • Could you tell me where the ladies is?
  8. Our Lady
     a title used to refer to Mary, the mother of Christ, especially in the Roman Catholic Church
    • Our Lady of Lourdes
    9. Word OriginOld English hlǣfdīge (denoting a woman to whom homage or obedience is due, such as the wife of a lord, also specifically the Virgin Mary), from hlāf ‘loaf’ + a Germanic base meaning ‘knead’, related to dough; compare with lord.
Idioms
a gentleman/lady of leisure
  1. (humorous) a man/woman who does not have to work
it’s not over until the fat lady sings
  1. (saying) used for saying that a situation may still change, for example that a contest, election, etc. is not finished yet, and somebody still has a chance to win it
See lady in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee lady in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: lady

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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