law */*/*/

law */*/*/
UK [lɔː] / US [lɔ] noun
Word forms "law":
singular law plural laws
1) [countable] an official rule that people must obey

The new law will be passed by Parliament in the spring.

break a law (= do something illegal):

Several traffic laws had been broken.

law against:

a law against shoplifting

law on:

a new law on gun ownership

a) [singular/uncountable] a system of rules within a country, region, or community dealing with people's behaviour and activities
against the law (= illegal):

It is against the law to park on a double yellow line.

break the law (= do something illegal):

The local authority is prepared to prosecute them for breaking the law.

obey the law:

Local officials are reminding people to obey the law and not sell fireworks to children under sixteen.

by/under law (= according to the law):

Any changes are required by law to be in writing.

within the law (= legal or legally):

They pledged to work within the law to bring about change.

above the law (= allowed to not obey the law):

Neither the government nor any official is above the law.

become law (= be made a law):

The bill could become law as soon as next year.

enforce the law (= punish people who do not obey it):

It is the Attorney-General's job to enforce the law, not the White House's.

b) [uncountable] a set of rules within a larger system that deal with a particular subject or area

criminal/company/constitutional law

c) [countable] a rule or set of principles that people follow for moral or religious reasons

the laws of morality

d) [countable] British a rule in sport
••
See:
2)
a) [uncountable] the profession that includes lawyers and judges
practise law (= work as a lawyer):

Anne's been practising law for 20 years.

b) [only before noun] relating to this profession, to courts, or to a legal system

a law firm

3)
a) [uncountable] the area of knowledge or study dealing with systems of rules and the way that they work

Both of them are studying law at university.

b) [only before noun] relating to this area of knowledge or study

a law school/degree

4) [countable] science an explanation of a natural or scientific process

the laws of physics/gravity

See:
5) the law
informal the police
•
See:

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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