law

law [ lɔ ] noun ***

▸ 1 rule or set of rules

▸ 2 profession of lawyers

▸ 3 study of rules

▸ 4 explanation of process

▸ 5 the police

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count an official rule that people must obey:

The new law will be passed by the Senate in the spring.

break a law (=do something illegal): Several traffic laws had been broken.

law against: a law against shoplifting

law on: a new law on gun ownership

a ) singular or uncount a system of rules within a country, region, or community dealing with people's behavior and activities:

against the law (=illegal): It is against the law to beg on the streets of the city.

break the law (=do something illegal): The state is prepared to prosecute them for breaking the law.

obey the law: Local officials are reminding people to obey the law and not sell fireworks to children under sixteen.

by/under law (=according to the law): Any changes are required by law to be in writing.

within the law (=legal or legally): They pledged to work within the law to bring about change.

above the law (=allowed to not obey the law): No official is above the law.

become law (=be made a law): The bill could become law as soon as next year.

enforce the law (=punish people who do not obey it): It is the Attorney-General's job to enforce the law, not the White House's.

b ) uncount a set of rules within a larger system that deal with a particular subject or area:

criminal/company/constitutional law

c ) count a rule or set of principles that people follow for moral or religious reasons:

the laws of morality

2. ) uncount the profession that includes lawyers and judges:

practice law (=work as a lawyer): Anne's been practicing law for 20 years.

a ) only before noun relating to this profession, to courts, or to a legal system:

a law firm

3. ) uncount the area of knowledge or study dealing with systems of rules and the way they work:

Both of them are studying law.

a ) only before noun relating to this area of knowledge or study:

a law school/degree

4. ) count an explanation of a natural or scientific process:

the laws of physics/gravity

5. ) the law INFORMAL the police

be a law unto yourself

to refuse to behave like everyone else or to believe you can do whatever you want to

the long arm of the law HUMOROUS

used for referring to the police and their ability to catch criminals

take the law into your own hands

to punish someone in your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing something illegal yourself

=> LAY DOWN