lEnglishOxford New American Dictionaryl /el, ɛl / ▸ abbreviation 1 (giving position or direction) left: l to r: Gordon, Anthony, Jerry, and Mark. 2 (chiefly in horse racing) length(s): distances 5 l, 3 l. 3 (l.) (in textual references) line: l. 648. 4 Chemistry liquid. 5 liter(s). 6 (l.) archaic pound(s): a salary of 4l. a week. ▸ symbol (in mathematical formulas) length.