Advertisement
Advertisement
liaison
[ lee-ey-zawn, lee-uh-zon, -zuhnor, often, ley-; lee-ey-zuhn, -zon; French lye-zawn ]
noun
- the contact or connection maintained by communications between units of the armed forces or of any other organization in order to ensure concerted action, cooperation, etc.
- a person who initiates and maintains such a contact or connection.
- an illicit sexual relationship.
- Cooking. the process of thickening sauces, soups, etc., as by the addition of eggs, cream, butter, or flour.
- Phonetics. a speech-sound redistribution, occurring especially in French, in which an otherwise silent final consonant is articulated as the initial sound of a following syllable that begins with a vowel or with a silent h, as the z- and n- sounds in Je suis un homme [zh, uh, sweez, œ, -, nawm].
liaison
/ ɪˈɪɒ /
noun
- communication and contact between groups or units
- modifier of or relating to liaison between groups or units
a liaison officer
- a secretive or adulterous sexual relationship
- one who acts as an agent between parties; intermediary
- the relationship between military units necessary to ensure unity of purpose
- (in the phonology of several languages, esp French) the pronunciation of a normally silent consonant at the end of a word immediately before another word commencing with a vowel, in such a way that the consonant is taken over as the initial sound of the following word. Liaison is seen between French ils (il) and ont ( ɔ̃ ), to give ils ont ( il zɔ̃ )
- any thickening for soups, sauces, etc, such as egg yolks or cream
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of liaison1
Example Sentences
Instead of cash-strapped travelers and dangerous liaisons, the motel hosts music videos, dog shows, wedding photos, car club meetings, social media gatherings and skateboarding events in its empty pool.
A designated family liaison officer has been appointed "as a point of continuity for patients and families during this time", he added.
The reason he killed the husband of his ex-lover, Baker said, was because he was fed up with sharing her and living a life of secret liaisons.
"Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family."
Two sources said the Navy liaison was moved out of his post early.
Advertisement
Related 51Թs
About This 51Թ
What doesliaison mean?
A liaison is a person who acts to arrange and assist interaction between parties. A close synonym is intermediary. A more informal synonym is go-between.
It can also refer to communication, interaction, or a meeting between such parties.
The verb liaise comes from liaison and typically means to act as a liaison by doing such arranging, assisting, and communicating.
But liaison is also used in several other, more specific contexts.
In the context of the military, liaison refers to the contact or connection maintained by communications between units in order to ensure concerted action—or the person who maintains this contact.
In cooking (especially classical French cooking), it can be used as a technical term for the process of thickening sauces, soups, and other dishes, such as by adding eggs, cream, butter, or flour.
Liaison is also a somewhat formal term for a secretive sexual relationship, especially one in which at least one of the partners is cheating on their spouse. A much more common word for this is affair.
Example: In my work as an interdepartmental liaison, I’ve learned that communication and trust are keys to success.
Where doesliaison come from?
The first records of the word liaison in English come from the 1600s. It derives from the Latin پōn-, meaning “a binding,” from the Latin verb , “to tie” or “to bind.” (The verb liaise is a back formation of liaison, meaning liaison came first and was altered to form liaise.)
The word liaison was first used in English in the context of cooking to refer to the thickening of sauces and similar things. Such thickeners, such as egg yolks, are sometimes referred to as binding agents. And in the context of communication between parties, that’s what a liaison acts as—an agent who binds the two parties together in a way that allows for successful communication and interaction. Such liaisons often serve as the go-between for different departments, agencies, or organizations.
This type of facilitation is crucial during military operations, when miscommunication or contradictory orders can have deadly consequences. (In fact, the verb liaise originated as military slang.)
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to liaison?
- liaise (verb)
What are some synonyms for liaison?
What are some words that share a root or word elements with liaison?
What are some words that often get used in discussing liaison?
How isliaison used in real life?
Liaison is somewhat formal. It is used in several different contexts.
The care coordinators in this program recognize it's unrealistic to expect students who miss weeks of school for mental health reasons to make up all the missed classwork.
So they act as a liaison between student and teacher — ironing out a make-up plan.
— NPR (@NPR)
What it's like to work as a liaison between those without Internet access and places that offer it
— Pacific Standard (@PacificStand)
NEW: South Korea's Unification Ministry confirms that North Korea has blown up the inter-Korean liaison office, which had served as a de facto embassy between the two Koreas.
— William Gallo (@GalloVOA)
Try usingliaison!
Is liaison used correctly in the following sentence?
We need to arrange a liaison between all parties to start discussion.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse