Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lias

/ˈliəs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.11 in modern English

Syllables: lias
IPA: /ˈliəs/

4

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A type of blue limestone present in parts of southern England and Wales.

Uncountable

noun

Alternative letter-case form of Lias.

Uncountable

name

A stratigraphic group from the lower Jurassic of Western Europe, consisting of thin layers of blue limestone.

name

The lower Jurassic.

Obsolete

name

noun

Etymology

Originally dialectal, from Old French liois (“compact limestone”) (French liais), from Medieval Latin liae, plural of lia; doublet of lees (which is via Latin lias). Ultimate origin uncertain, possibly a Celtic word (such as Gaulish *ligyā) from Proto-Celtic *legyā, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie (down)”). Compare Loire and Leicester.

Origin

Source language: Proto-Indo-European

Word Breakdown

Root: *legʰ-, liae, *ligyā, *legyā

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈliəs/
British English: /ˈliəs/

Usage

Derived Forms

Liassic

Questions

How do you pronounce lias?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈliəs/.
What does lias mean?: A type of blue limestone present in parts of southern England and Wales.
Where does lias come from?: It is traced to Proto-Indo-European.

How to pronounce lias

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lias”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈliəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lias”.
Repeat and practice — Say “lias” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.