L2 meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

L2

noun

A second language (a language being learned, as opposed to a mother tongue).

That is, for almost all late second language (L2) learners, the phonetic realization of phonological structures in the L2 is markedly different from native-language patterns.2008, Jette G. Hansen Edwards, Mary L. Zampini, Phonology and Second Language Acquisition, John Benjamins Publishing, →ISBN, page 153:
This advantage was pertinent in the Hong Kong context where English is largely an L2 language, although would not be expected to be as large in an L1 context.2017, Di Zou, James Lambert, “Feedback methods for student voice in the digital age”, in British Journal of Educational Technology, volume 48, number 5, page 1085:

L2

noun

Etymology From Level 2.

› Short for second level in various contexts

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences The second-level cache of a processor, farther away from the processor than the first level cache.

In typical Intel chips L2 bandwidth is half of L1 bandwidth.

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Networking, Physical sciences, Sciences The data link layer in the seven layer OSI network model.

an L2 switch