lokans

From a dialectal adjective loks (“flexible”) (with an extra -an), from the same stem as liekt (“to bend”) (q.v.).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [lùokans]

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lokans (definite lokanais, comparative lokanāks, superlative vislokanākais, adverb lokani)

1. flexible (such that it bends easily without breaking)

   lokans zars ― flexible branch

   lokani zāles stiebri ― flexible grass blades, stems

   lazdas koksne ir ļoti lokana un sīksta ― hazel wood is very flexible and tough

   viegls vējiņš šūpoja bērzu lokanos zarus ― a light breeze rocked the flexible birch tree branches

2. (of people, animals, their bodies and body parts) flexible, agile (capable of agile movements)

   lokans viduklis ― flexible waist

   lokani pirksti ― flexible fingers

   lokana mugura ― flexible back

   lokanas meža kaķes ― agile forest cats (lynxes)

   sīkais lokanais Arturs izskatījās gluži kā puika ― little agile Arturs looked just like a boy

3. (figuratively) flexible, agile (capable of working quickly in a range of situations and variations)

   lokans prāts ― agile, flexible mind

   lokana balss ― agile, flexible voice (which changes easily of height, timbre, etc.)

   lokana mēle ― agile, flexible tongue (said of someone who talks a lot, easily, and convincingly, like e.g. a salesman)

4. (figuratively, of circumstances) flexible (adapting, capable of admitting significant changes in their conditions)

   padomju aparātam jābūt lokanam, saliedētam, spējīgam precīzi un ātri realizēt partijas un valdības direktīvas ― a Soviet unit (apparat) must be flexible, cohesive, and able to carry out precisely and quickly the party and government directives

5. (figuratively, of words, language) flexible (expressive, nuanced)

   mēs priecāmies par to, ka rakstnieka frāze kļuvusi lokanāka, koncentrētāka, domām bagātāka ― we are glad that the writer's phrase (= style) has become more flexible, more focused, richer in thoughts

• lokanība
• lokanums

• liekt
• locīt
• loks