lieutenant

Plurallieutenants

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A junior officer in the army, air force, or marines, one rank below a captain.

   The young lieutenant had joined the US Army straight out of college.

   The Marines in her unit called her Lieutenant Diaz.

   UsageSaid lef-TEN-ant in Britain and loo-TEN-ant in America.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   The person who helps a leader and acts for them, second in charge.

   The boss sent her top lieutenant to handle the deal.

   Police arrested the gang's leader and his lieutenant on the same night.

   Similardeputy, second-in-command

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Put before a military rank to name a rank below it, as in lieutenant colonel.

   Her father retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army.

   A lieutenant general visited the base and shook hands with every soldier.

   UsageA lieutenant colonel is one rank below a colonel, not a type of lieutenant.

4. 4
   nouncountable

   An officer in a navy or coast guard whose rank is just below lieutenant commander.

   The Navy lieutenant checked the ship's radar before the storm.

   Her brother is a lieutenant in the Coast Guard.

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   A leader in a police or fire department whose rank is lower than a captain's.

   The fire lieutenant told everyone to leave the building at once.

   My aunt was promoted to lieutenant after ten years with the city police.

   Note

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