Standard Lemma guide

lau

name · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /laʊ/
  • rhymes with -aʊ
  • CMU ARPABET: L AW1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A surname from Chinese.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To place upon; to put down onto.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Polari

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Cantonese 劉/刘 (lau4), Hokkien 劉/刘 (Lâu) or Teochew 劉/刘 (lao5). Doublet of Luu.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 劉 /刘 (lau4) — a Chinese surname
  • Chinese Mandarin: 劉 /刘 (Liú) — a Chinese surname
  • Japanese: 劉 (Ryū) — a Chinese surname
  • Japanese: ラウ (Rau) — a Chinese surname