lady

/'leIdi/ noun plural ladies (C)

1 WOMAN

a) a word meaning woman, used because people think it is a more polite word: Give your coat to the lady over there. | The young lady at reception sent me up here. | the ladies' darts team | tea lady/cleaning lady etc (=a woman who does a particular job) | lady doctor/councillor etc (=a polite word, which many women find offensive, for a woman doctor, councillor, etc)

-see also: dinner lady

b) approving especially AmE a woman, especially one with a strong character: She's a real smart lady.

2 POLITE WOMAN a woman who is always polite and behaves very well: Sheila always tries to be a lady.

3 WOMAN OF HIGH CLASS a woman born into a high social class in Britain: a lady of noble birth

4 WIFE/GIRLFRIEND old-fashioned or literary a man's wife or female friend: the captain and his lady

5 WHEN SPEAKING TO A WOMAN AmE a way of addressing a woman, which many women consider to be offensive: Hey, lady, watch where you're going!

6 the ladies BrE a women's toilet; ladies room AmE

-compare the gents gent (2)

7 Lady

a) used as the title of the wife or daughter of a British nobleman or the wife of a knight 1 (2): Lady Diana

b) BrE used in the title of women with a high official position: Lady President

8 the lady of the house old-fashioned the most important woman in a house, usually the mother of a family

9 lady of leisure often humorous a woman who does not work and has a lot of free time: So you're a lady of leisure now that the kids are at school?

10 lady friend often humorous a man's female friend; girlfriend: I saw him with his new lady friend.

-see also: bag lady, first lady, old lady, Our Lady