- law
- lawW1S1 [lo: US lo:] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(system of rules)¦2¦(a rule)¦3 law and order4¦(police)¦5¦(what always happens)¦6¦(study/profession)¦7¦(sport/activity)¦8 the law of the jungle9 the law of averages10 be a law unto himself/herself etc11 take the law into your own hands12 go to law13 be above the law14 there's no law against something15 there ought to be a law against something16 somebody's word is law▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: lagu]1.) ¦(SYSTEM OF RULES)¦ also the law[U]the whole system of rules that people in a particular country or area must obey▪ Should people do what they think is right even when it means breaking the law ?▪ Elected officials ought to obey the law .▪ The Suicide Act became law in 1961.▪ By law , seatbelts must be worn by all passengers.▪ In Sweden it is against the law to hit a child.▪ They were fully convinced they were performing their duties within the law .▪ an interesting area of criminal law▪ the principles of international law▪ Federal law protects workers who are disabled.2.) ¦(A RULE)¦a rule that people in a particular country or area must obeyimmigration/labour/libel etc lawunder a law▪ Five people arrested under anti-terrorism laws were released without charge.law on▪ European laws on equal opportunitieslaw against▪ The laws against drug use were very severe.▪ laws passed by Parliament3.) law and ordera situation in which people respect the law, and crime is controlled by the police, the prison system etc▪ We are concerned about the breakdown of law and order in the country.4.) ¦(POLICE)¦the lawthe police▪ I think she may be in trouble with the law.5.) ¦(WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS)¦something that always happens in nature or society, or a statement that describes thislaw of▪ the law of supply and demand▪ the laws of nature▪ the law of gravity6.) ¦(STUDY/PROFESSION)¦ also the law[U]law as a subject of study, or the profession of being a lawyer▪ She's studying law in London.7.) ¦(SPORT/ACTIVITY)¦one of the rules which controls a sport or activity▪ the laws of football8.) the law of the junglea) the idea that people should only look after themselves and not care about other people if they want to succeedb) the principle that only the strongest creatures will stay alive9.) the law of averagesthe ↑probability that one result will happen as often as another if you try something often enough▪ The law of averages says we'll win at least once.10.) be a law unto himself/herself etcto behave in an independent way and not worry about the usual rules of behaviour or what other people do or think▪ Boys his age are a law unto themselves.11.) take the law into your own handsto do something illegal in order to put right something that you think is not fair, for example by violently punishing someone instead of telling the police▪ vigilantes who take the law into their own hands12.) go to lawto go to court in order to settle a problem▪ the right of consumers to go to law if they need to13.) be above the lawsomeone who is above the law does not have to obey the law▪ Many ministers seem to regard themselves as above the law.14.) there's no law against sthspoken used to tell someone who is criticizing you that you are not doing anything wrong15.) there ought to be a law against sthspoken used to say that you do not think something should be accepted or allowed▪ There ought to be a law against cutting off power supplies in the middle of February.16.) sb's word is lawused to say that someone is always obeyed without argument→↑civil law, ↑common law, ↑criminal law, ↑Roman law, ↑Sod's law,lay down the law at lay down(3), unwritten law at ↑unwritten▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1break the law (=do something illegal)obey the lawbecome law (=officially be made a law)enforce the law (=make people obey the law)by law (=according to the law)be against the law (=be illegal)within the law (=legal or legally)tax/copyright/divorce etc law (=all the laws about tax etc)criminal lawcivil lawinternational lawfederal law American English (=the law of the US, not of a particular state)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
