lord

/lɔːd/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɔrd] /lɔːrd/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɔrd] /ˈlord/ (ame, mw)

lord — noun

  • lordsingular
  • lordsplural

1. a man from the highest social class who holds a noble title or controls land, es

1.名詞C1
釋義

a man from the highest social class who holds a noble title or controls land, especially in older British society.

例句

The local lord raised rents after repairing the bridge near the mill.

local lord in an estate setting

As a young lord, Sahil had land but little say at court.

a young lord with rank and land

同義詞
  • nobleman

    close in meaning, but less tied to the title word lord

  • peer

    more specific in British law and title systems

  • landowner

    covers property control but does not imply noble rank

反義詞
  • commoner

    someone without noble rank

  • tenant

    person living under a lord's control rather than holding it

文法句型

a lord of + place

local lord

lord of the manor

用法筆記

This sense names the man himself, not the title word before a name. It is common in history, fantasy, and discussion of the British nobility.

常見錯誤

❌Any rich man in the city is a lord.
✅A lord is a man with a noble rank or feudal position.
💡wealth alone does not make someone a lord in this sense.

2. a man who dominates a particular trade, place, or criminal network because he ha

2.名詞B2
釋義

a man who dominates a particular trade, place, or criminal network because he has unusual power there.

例句

Police believed the crime lord was running three gambling houses by the port.

crime lord as compound noun

The newspaper called him a media lord after he bought two television networks.

media lord for industry power

同義詞
  • kingpin

    close in criminal contexts and slightly more journalistic

  • tycoon

    usually points to lawful business wealth rather than intimidation

  • boss

    broader and much more neutral than lord

反義詞
  • underling

    someone at the bottom of a power structure

文法句型

crime lord

drug lord

media lord

用法筆記

Usually appears in compounds such as crime lord or drug lord. It suggests domination and fear more than an ordinary business title like boss or owner.

常見錯誤

❌My office lord approved the schedule.
✅My boss approved the schedule.
💡this sense is only for someone with extreme power or influence, not a normal manager.

3. the word placed before the name of some British male nobles and senior officials

3.名詞B2
釋義

the word placed before the name of some British male nobles and senior officials.

例句

Lord Haversham arrived after the vote had already started in the chamber.

Lord + surname

The letter was addressed to Lord Patel at the Ministry of Justice.

title before an official name

同義詞
  • title

    more general; it does not specify the word Lord itself

  • honorific

    formal term for a respectful title before a name

文法句型

Lord + surname

Lord + office title

用法筆記

This sense is the title word that comes before a name or office. Distinguish it from sense 1, which refers to the man who holds the rank.

常見錯誤

❌I met Lord yesterday.
✅I met Lord Patel yesterday.
💡this title normally needs a following name or official position.

4. the upper chamber of the British Parliament, made up of nonelected members and t

4.名詞C2
釋義

the upper chamber of the British Parliament, made up of nonelected members and titled figures.

例句

The bill moved to the Lords after passing the Commons by nine votes.

the Lords in parliamentary process

Several bishops spoke in the Lords during the debate on assisted dying.

in the Lords

同義詞
反義詞
  • Commons

    the elected lower chamber of the British Parliament

文法句型

the Lords

in the Lords

用法筆記

Usually appears as the Lords and refers to the parliamentary body, not to individual noblemen. It is mainly used in British political reporting.

常見錯誤

❌He met a lord in the Lords.
✅He met a lord in the House of Lords.
💡this sense names the institution, not one person inside it.

5. a respectful way of speaking to a British judge or male peer.

5.名詞C1
釋義

a respectful way of speaking to a British judge or male peer.

例句

The barrister said, 'My Lord, the defense will call one final witness.'

My Lord in court speech

When the judge entered, every clerk stood and greeted him as 'My Lord.'

addressing a judge directly

同義詞
  • sir

    far broader and less restricted than my lord

  • Your Lordship

    more formal and often used in legal or ceremonial contexts

文法句型

My Lord, ...

my lord

用法筆記

This is a spoken form of respect, especially in court or very formal service. It is not used for ordinary bosses, teachers, or officials.

常見錯誤

❌My lord, can you check my homework?
✅Sir, can you check my homework?
💡this address is reserved for judges and peers, not everyday authority figures.

6. used by Christians as a title for God or for Jesus Christ.

6.名詞B2
釋義

used by Christians as a title for God or for Jesus Christ.

例句

On Easter morning, the choir sang, 'Praise the Lord,' before the sermon.

Praise the Lord

Noor whispered, 'Lord, give me patience,' while she waited outside surgery.

Lord in a personal prayer

同義詞
  • God

    the broadest title and not always focused on Jesus

  • Christ

    refers specifically to Jesus rather than God in general

文法句型

Praise the Lord

Lord, ...

用法筆記

Usually written with a capital L and heard in worship, prayer, and Christian writing. In this sense it refers to a divine figure, not to a human nobleman.

常見錯誤

❌The lord answered the prayer.
✅The Lord answered the prayer.
💡Christians normally capitalize Lord when it refers to God or Jesus.

lord — verb