Lake \Lake\, n. [AS. lac, L. lacus; akin to AS. lagu lake, sea, Icel. l["o]gr; OIr. loch; cf. Gr. ? pond, tank. Cf. Loch, Lough.] A large body of water contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from the drainage of a more or less extended area. Note: Lakes are for the most part of fresh water; the salt lakes, like the Great Salt Lake of Utah, have usually no outlet to the ocean. Lake dwellers (Ethnol.), people of a prehistoric race, or races, which inhabited different parts of Europe. Their dwellings were built on piles in lakes, a short distance from the shore. Their relics are common in the lakes of Switzerland. Lake dwellings (Arch[ae]ol.), dwellings built over a lake, sometimes on piles, and sometimes on rude foundations kept in place by piles; specifically, such dwellings of prehistoric times. Lake dwellings are still used by many savage tribes. Called also lacustrine dwellings. See Crannog. Lake fly (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of dipterous flies of the genus Chironomus. In form they resemble mosquitoes, but they do not bite. The larv[ae] live in lakes. Lake herring (Zo["o]l.), the cisco ({Coregonus Artedii}). Lake poets, Lake school, a collective name originally applied in contempt, but now in honor, to Southey, Coleridge, and Wordsworth, who lived in the lake country of Cumberland, England, Lamb and a few others were classed with these by hostile critics. Called also lakers and lakists. Lake sturgeon (Zo["o]l.), a sturgeon ({Acipenser rubicundus}), of moderate size, found in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is used as food. Lake trout (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of trout and salmon; in Europe, esp. Salmo fario; in the United States, esp. Salvelinus namaycush of the Great Lakes, and of various lakes in New York, Eastern Maine, and Canada. A large variety of brook trout ({S. fontinalis}), inhabiting many lakes in New England, is also called lake trout. See Namaycush. Lake whitefish. (Zo["o]l.) See Whitefish. Lake whiting (Zo["o]l.), an American whitefish ({Coregonus Labradoricus}), found in many lakes in the Northern United States and Canada. It is more slender than the common whitefish.

look up a word or phrase