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# lieutenant

noun (a lieutenant, lieutenants; Lt)

«lieutenant» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An officer in the army, navy or air force, of a junior to middle rank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#m1)
2. A person who helps and acts for a leader; a deputy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#m2)
3. (US) A police or fire officer of middle rank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history and war stories, lieutenants lead small groups of soldiers; in the navy a lieutenant ranks above a sub-lieutenant. In crime stories, the boss's lieutenant is his chief helper. Phrases: second lieutenant, lieutenant colonel, Lieutenant Governor (Canada, US).

### Examples

- The lieutenant led his soldiers across the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x1)
- My great-grandad was a lieutenant in the navy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x2)
- The gang leader sent his lieutenant to do the dirty work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x3)
- Lieutenant Smith gave the order to march. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x4)
- In the US, a police lieutenant is above a sergeant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x5)
- The captain's chief lieutenant took over the ship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x6)
- In Canada, each province has a Lieutenant Governor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x7)
- "No doubt, they belong to the lieutenant who lives up stairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/#x8)

### Note

Countable. Pronunciation differs: UK «lef-TEN-ant», US «loo-TEN-ant». Spelling trap: l-i-e-u-tenant. Short form: Lt. or Lieut. Comes from French «lieu tenant» = place-holder.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lieutenant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lieutenant/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lieutenant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lieutenant.html) on Mova free.