laurence

¹ American

[lawr-uhns, lor-] / ˈlɔr əns, ˈlɒr- /

noun

Physics. a shimmering effect seen over a hot surface, such as a pavement or roadway, on a clear and calm day, caused by the irregular refraction of light.

Laurence ² American

[lawr-uhns, lor-] / ˈlɔr əns, ˈlɒr- /

noun

a male given name, form of Lawrence.

Laurence British

/ ˈlɒrəns /

noun

Margaret, full name Jean Margaret Laurence, 1926–87, Canadian novelist and short story writer; her novels include The Stone Angel (1964)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of laurence

First recorded in 1790–1800; origin unknown

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Christophe Leribault, who replaced Laurence des Cars, was appointed president of the iconic museum by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

From Barron's

The president of France's Palace of Versailles is expected to take over as head of the Louvre following the resignation of Laurence des Cars after a $100-million robbery at the museum last year, an informed source told AFP on Wednesday.

From Barron's

Laurence des Cars, the first woman to lead the Louvre, said she no longer felt able to fully carry out her responsibilities because of a lack of clarity over priorities and resources.

From The Wall Street Journal

Laurence des Carrs submitted her resignation to President Emmanel Macron, who said it was "an act of responsibility", French media say.

From BBC

In a statement posted to economist Laurence Kotlikoff’s Substack, Hassett said he regretted his choice of words.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023