Icelandic

Noun

lauks

1. indefinite genitive singular of laukur

Latvian

Rudzu lauks (1)

Ledus lauks (2)

Elektromagnētiskais lauks (6)

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *lawk-, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‎(“to shine; bright; to see”), whence also the Latvian adjective lauks ‎(“light (color)”) (q.v.). As a noun (with intonational change), the meaning evolution was probably “light, clear (place)” > “open place” > “field.” Cognates include Lithuanian laũkas, Old High German lōh ‎(“forest clearing overgrown with bushes”) (< *lauh) Old Prussian laucks, Sanskrit लोकः ‎(lokáḥ, “free space, clearing; world”), Latin lūcus ‎(“sacred grove”) (< “glade, clearing near a grove”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lāūks]

Noun

lauks m (1st declension)

1. field (area of land occupied by one or a few plant species, usually crops)

   rudzu, kviešu, linu lauks‎ ― rye, wheat, flax field

   kartupeļu, biešu, kāpostu lauks‎ ― potato, beet, cabbage field

   aparts lauks‎ ― plowed, labored field

   nokopts lauks‎ ― cleared field

   sagatavot lauku sējai‎ ― to prepare a field for sowing

   pirmie pavasara lauku darbi‎ ― the first field works of spring

   lauka gurķi‎ ― field cucumbers (i.e., grown in the open air)

   lauku puķes‎ ― field flowers (i.e., those that grow freely in meadows, fields, etc,)

   lauku zvirbulis‎ ― field sparrow (species found in rural areas)

   lauku balodis ir lielāks par mājas balodi‎ ― the field (= wild) pigeon is bigger than the house (= domestic) pigeon

2. field (a large surface or clearing formed by something, where something can be found)

   ledus, sniega lauks‎ ― ice, snow field

   kapu lauks, kapulauks‎ ― graveyard (lit. grave field)

   mīnu lauks‎ ― mine field

3. (singular only) outside area, exterior

   ienākt no lauka istabā‎ ― to come into the room from outside

   bērni varēja iet rotaļās, skraidīt pa lauku un pēcāk visi kopā ēst vakariņas‎ ― the children could go play, run outside and later all together eat dinner

4. area (environment, place, branch of knowledge, where some work, process, action will happen)

   darba lauks, darbalauks‎ ― field of work, activity

   kara lauks, karalauks‎ ― battleground (lit. war field)

   kaujas lauks‎ ― battlefield

   redzes lauks‎ ― field of vision

   darbības lauks‎ ― scope (lit. field of action)

   E. Eferts-Klusais spraigi darbojās kultūras un izglītības laukā‎ ― E. Eferts-Klusais worked strenuously in the field of culture and education

   celtniecība iespējams atrast daudz, daudz jaunu ceļu; šis darba lauks gaidīt gaida cilvēkus ar nemierīgu sirdi un dzīvu fantāziju‎ ― in construction it is possible to find many, many new paths; this field of work is just waiting for people with a restless heart and living fantasy

5. (military, in the genitive) field... (which happens in, or is suitable for, deployment or combat situations)

   lauka hospitālis‎ ― field hospital

   lauka virtuve‎ ― field kitchen

   lauka soma‎ ― field bag

   lauka kara tiesa‎ ― field court martial

   lauka kapelāns‎ ― field chaplain

6. (physics) field (region of space where a certain force or influence manifests itself)

   elektriskais, magnētiskais lauks‎ ― electric, magnetic field

   elektromagnētiskais lauks‎ ― electromagnetic field

   gravitācijas lauks‎ ― gravitational field

   akustiskais lauks‎ ― acoustic field

   kodolspēku lauks‎ ― nuclear force field

   mainīgs lauks‎ ― variable field

   lauka intensitāte‎ ― field intensity

Declension

Synonyms

• (of "open area, for planting"): tīrums
• (of "branch of knowledge"): nozare
• (of "area outside"): ārs

Derived terms

• darba lauks, darbalauks
• karalauks, kara lauks
• laukā (adverb, out, outside)
• laukakmens
• laukums

References

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “lauks”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7

Lithuanian

Verb

lauks

1. third-person singular future tense of laukti.
2. third-person plural future tense of laukti.