n.
Pronunciation: ' l ē - ə - ˌ zän, l ē - ' ā -, ÷ ' l ā - ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from lier, from Old French
Date: circa 1648
1 : a binding or thickening agent used in cooking
2 a : a close bond or connection : INTERRELATIONSHIP b : an illicit sexual relationship : AFFAIR 3A
3 a : communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding and cooperation (as between parts of an armed force) b : one that establishes and maintains liaison
4 : the pronunciation of an otherwise absent consonant sound at the end of the first of two consecutive words the second of which begins with a vowel sound and follows without pause