Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: CRIME AND LAW

Language: Old English
Origin: lagu

law

 noun
     
law S1 W1
1

system of rules

also the law [uncountable] the whole system of rules that people in a particular country or area must obeyCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
break the law (=do something illegal) obey the law become 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 law civil law international law federal law American English (=the law of the US, not of a particular state)
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

[countable] a rule that people in a particular country or area must obey
under a law
Five people arrested under anti-terrorism laws were released without charge.
law on
European laws on equal opportunities
law against
The laws against drug use were very severe.
laws passed by Parliament
3

law and order

SC a 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 law

SCP the police:
I think she may be in trouble with the law.
5

what always happens

[countable] something that always happens in nature or society, or a statement that describes this
law of
the law of supply and demand
the laws of nature
the law of gravity
6

study/profession

also the law [uncountable] law as a subject of study, or the profession of being a lawyer:
She's studying law in London.
7

sport/activity

[countable] one of the rules which controls a sport or activity:
the laws of football
8

the law of the jungle

a) the idea that people should only look after themselves and not care about other people if they want to succeed
b) the principle that only the strongest creatures will stay alive
9

the law of averages

HMS the 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 etc

to 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 hands

to 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 hands
12

go to law

to go to court in order to settle a problem:
the right of consumers to go to law if they need to
13

be above the law

someone 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 something

spoken used to tell someone who is criticizing you that you are not doing anything wrong
15

there ought to be a law against something

spoken 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

somebody's word is law

used to say that someone is always obeyed without argument
Definition of law from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
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