/lɔ:; lɔ/
n
1 [C] rule established by authority or custom, regulating the behaviour of members of a community, country, etc （具体的）法, 法律, 法规, 法令
*The new law comes into force next month. 新法规下月实施.
2 [U] (also the law) body of such rules （整体的）法, 法律, 法规, 法令
*respect for tribal law 遵守部落的法规
* observe/obey the law 守法[遵法]
* Stealing is against the law. 盗窃是违法的.
* Children not admitted by law. 儿童不准进入--有法律规定.
* I didn't know I was breaking the law, ie doing sth illegal. 我并不知道自己已违法.
* be within/outside the law 在法律许可之内[之外]
* She acts as if she's above the law, ie as if the law does not apply to her. 她自以为可以凌驾法律之上.
* The law is on our side, ie We are right according to the law. 我们是有法律依据的.
3 [U] such rules as a science or subject of study 法律学; 法学
*read (ie study) law at university 在大学攻读法律学
* He gave up law to become a writer. 他放弃学法律而从事写作.
* [attrib 作定语] a law student 法律系学生.
4 [C] rule of action or procedure, esp in the arts or a game 规则（尤指艺术或比赛中的）
*the laws of perspective, harmony 透视法、和声法
* the laws of tennis 网球规则.
5 [C] factual statement of what always happens in certain circumstances; scientific principle 规律; 法则; 定律; 原理
*the law of gravity 引力定律
* the laws of motion 运动定律.
6 the law [sing] (infml 口) the police 警方; 警察
*Watch out here comes the law! 注意--警察来了!
7 (idm 习语) the arm of the law => arm1. be a law unto one`self/it`self behave in an unconventional or unpredictable fashion 以反常规的或不可预料的方式行事
*My car's a law unto itself I can't rely on it. 我的汽车自行其是--靠不住了. go to `law (against sb) ask the lawcourts to decide about a problem, claim, etc 提起诉讼; 打官司. have the `law on sb (infml 口) report sb to the police; start legal proceedings against sb 向警方告发某人; 对某人提出起诉
*If you do that again I'll have the law on you. 你要是再那样做, 我就报警. law and `order situation in which the law is obeyed 法治
*a breakdown in/of law and order 法治的衰败
* establish, maintain, uphold, etc law and order 建立、维护、坚持...法治
* [attrib 作定语] a law-and-order policy 法治方针. the law of `averages principle according to which one believes that if one extreme occurs it will be matched by the other extreme occurring, so that a normal average is maintained 平均律. the law of the `jungle the survival or success of the strongest or the most unscrupulous 丛林法则; 弱肉强食. lay down the `law say with (real or assumed) authority what should be done 以（真的或假的）权威资格说话
*He's always laying down the law about gardening but he really doesn't know much about it. 他总是对园艺工作发号施令, 其实他只是一知半解. the letter of the law => letter. possession is nine points of the law => possession. take the law into one's own `hands disregard the law and take independent (and usu forceful) action to correct sth believed to be wrong 无视法律而私行（通常用武力）惩治. there's no law against sth (infml 口) (doing) sth is allowed （做）某事是许可的
*I'll stay in bed as long as I like there's no law against it. 我在床上爱呆多久就呆多久--谁也管不着. an unwritten law/rule => unwritten.

n

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1【system of rules】
2【a rule】
3 law and order
4【police】
5【what always happens】
6【study/profession】
7【sport/activity】
8 the law of the jungle
9 the law of averages
10 be a law unto himself/herself etc
11 take the law into your own hands
12 go to law
13 be above the law
14 there's no law against something
15 there ought to be a law against something
16 somebody's word is law

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[Language: Old English;Origin: lagu]
【SYSTEM OF RULES】alsothe law[U]
the whole system of rules that people in a particular country or area must obey
Should people do what they think is right even when it means breaking the law ?
　Elected officials ought to obey the law .
The Suicide Act became law in 1961.
　By law , seatbelts must be worn by all passengers.
　In Sweden it is against the law to hit a child.
They were fully convinced they were performing their duties within the law .
an interesting area of criminal law
the principles of international law
　Federal law protects workers who are disabled.
【A RULE】[C]
a rule that people in a particular country or area must obey
immigration/labour/libel etc law
under a law
　Five people arrested under anti-terrorism laws were released without charge.
law on
　European laws on equal opportunities
law against
　The laws against drug use were very severe.
　laws passed by Parliament
law and order
a situation in which people respect the law, and crime is controlled by the police, the prison system etc
　We are concerned about the breakdown of law and order in the country.
【POLICE】
the law
the police
　I think she may be in trouble with the law.
【WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS】[C]
something that always happens in nature or society, or a statement that describes this
law of
　the law of supply and demand
　the laws of nature
　the law of gravity
【STUDY/PROFESSION】alsothe law[U]
law as a subject of study, or the profession of being a lawyer
　She's studying law in London.
【SPORT/ACTIVITY】[C]
one of the rules which controls a sport or activity
　the laws of football
the law of the jungle
a) the idea that people should only look after themselves and not care about other people if they want to succeed
b) the principle that only the strongest creatures will stay alive
the law of averages
the probability that one result will happen as often as another if you try something often enough
　The law of averages says we'll win at least once.
be a law unto himself/herself etc
to behave in an independent way and not worry about the usual rules of behaviour or what other people do or think
　Boys his age are a law unto themselves.
take the law into your own hands
to do something illegal in order to put right something that you think is not fair, for example by violently punishing someone instead of telling the police
　vigilantes who take the law into their own hands
go to law
to go to court in order to settle a problem
　the right of consumers to go to law if they need to
be above the law
someone who is above the law does not have to obey the law
　Many ministers seem to regard themselves as above the law.
there's no law against sth
spoken used to tell someone who is criticizing you that you are not doing anything wrong
there ought to be a law against sth
spoken used to say that you do not think something should be accepted or allowed
　There ought to be a law against cutting off power supplies in the middle of February.
sb's word is law
used to say that someone is always obeyed without argument
→civil law, common law, criminal law, Roman law, Sod's law,lay down the lawatlay down(3), unwritten lawatunwritten

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COLLOCATES for sense 1
break the law (=do something illegal)
obey the law
become law (=officially be made a law)
enforce the law (=make people obey the law)
by law (=according to the law)
be against the law (=be illegal)
within the law (=legal or legally)
tax/copyright/divorce etc law (=all the laws about tax etc)
criminal law
civil law
international law
federal lawAmerican English (=the law of the US, not of a particular state)

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