lady

noun

/ˈleɪdi/

(plural ladies)

Idioms

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[countable] a word used to mean ‘woman’ that some people, especially older people, consider is more polite女士，女子（指成年女子，有些人尤其是长者认为这样说比较礼貌）
- There's a lady waiting to see you.有位女士等着要见你。
- an old/elderly lady一位老/年迈的女士
- He was with an attractive young lady.他与一位漂亮的年轻女子在一起。
- And who is this lovely lady?这位可爱的女士是谁？
- the lady with the red hair红头发的女士
- the lady in the designer dress穿名牌服装的女士
- the ladies’ golf championship女子高尔夫球锦标赛
- (British English) a tea lady (= a woman who serves tea in an office)（办公室的）上茶女侍
- (North American English, approving) She's a tough lady.她是个能吃苦耐劳的女士。
- a lady doctor/golfer女医生；女高尔夫球手
Some women object to the way lady is used in some of these examples and prefer it to be avoided if possible: a doctor/a woman doctor • There's someone waiting to see you. see also bag lady, cleaning lady, dinner lady, First Lady, dragon lady, leading lady (1), lollipop lady, lunch lady, old lady, painted lady, White Lady
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- elderly
- middle-aged
- old
- …
lady + noun
- friend
phrases
- a lady of leisure
- ladies who lunch
- the lady of the house
- …
See full entry
[countable] a woman who is polite and well educated, has excellent manners and always behaves well举止文雅且有教养的女子；淑女
- His wife was a real lady.他的妻子真是个娴雅的淑女。
- You could at least try to behave like a lady.你至少应该表现得像个淑女。
compare gentleman
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- elderly
- middle-aged
- old
- …
lady + noun
- friend
phrases
- a lady of leisure
- ladies who lunch
- the lady of the house
- …
See full entry
[countable, usually plural] (formal) used when speaking to or about a girl or woman, especially somebody you do not know（尤用于称呼或谈及不认识的女子）女士，小姐
- Can I take your coats, ladies?女士们，我可以替你们拿大衣吗？
- Could I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?女士们，先生们，请注意！
[singular] (especially North American English) an informal way to talk to a woman, showing a lack of respect（不尊重的非正式称呼）女人，女士
- Listen, lady, don't shout at me.听着，女士，别对我大喊大叫的。
[countable] (old-fashioned) (in the UK) a woman belonging to a high social class（英国）贵妇人，夫人，小姐
- the lords and ladies of the court宫廷的贵族及夫人
- a lady’s maid贵妇人的贴身女侍
Topics People in societyb2
Lady
[countable] (in the UK) a title used by a woman who is a member of the nobility, or by somebody who has been given the title ‘lady’ as an honour. The wives and daughters of some members of the nobility and the wives of knights are also called ‘Lady’.（在英国对女贵族、女爵士、贵族成员的妻女或爵士妻子的称呼）夫人，女士，小姐
- Lady Howe豪夫人
- Lady Jane Grey简 · 格雷小姐
compare lord, sir
a/the ladies
[uncountable] (British English)
(North American English ladies’ room, women's room [countable])
a toilet for women in a public building or place女厕所；女卫生间；女洗手间；女盥洗室
- Could you tell me where the ladies is?请告诉我女卫生间在哪里好吗？
Our Lady
a title used to refer to Mary, the mother of Christ, especially in the Roman Catholic Church（天主教常用）圣母
- Our Lady of Lourdes露德圣母

Word OriginOld English hlǣfdīge (denoting a woman to whom homage or obedience is due, such as the wife of a lord, also specifically the Virgin Mary), from hlāf ‘loaf’ + a Germanic base meaning ‘knead’, related to dough; compare with lord.

Idioms

a gentleman/lady of leisure

(humorous) a man/woman who does not have to work不必工作的男人（或女人）

it’s not over until the fat lady sings

(saying) used for saying that a situation may still change, for example that a contest, election, etc. is not finished yet, and somebody still has a chance to win it最后才能见输赢；不到最后，结果难料