love

love [luv]

n.

[ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base * leubh-, to be fond of, desire > LIBIDO, LIEF, LUST]

1. a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons

2. an expression of one's love or affection [give Mary my love]

3. a feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people

4.

a) strong liking for or interest in something [a love of music]

b) the object of such liking

5.

a) a strong, usually passionate, affection of one person for another, based in part on sexual attraction

b) the person who is the object of such an affection; sweetheart; lover

6.

a) sexual passion

b) sexual intercourse

7. [< phr. play for love, i.e., play for nothing] Tennis a score of zero

8. Theol.

a) God's tender regard and concern for all human beings

b) devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good, that all human beings have

9. [L-] Myth.

a) Cupid, or Eros, as the god of love

b) Rare Venus

vt.

loved, loving

1. to feel love for

2. to show love for by embracing, fondling, kissing, etc.

3. to delight in; take pleasure in [to love books]

4. to gain benefit from [a plant that loves shade]

vi.

to feel the emotion of love; be in love

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fall in love with or fall in love

to begin to feel love (for)

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for love

as a favor or for pleasure; without payment

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for the love of

for the sake of; with loving regard for

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in love

feeling love; enamored

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make love

1. to woo or embrace, kiss, etc. as lovers do

2. to have sexual intercourse

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no love lost between

no liking or affection existing between

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not for love or money

not under any conditions

SYN.- LOVE implies intense fondness or deep devotion and may apply to various relationships or objects [sexual love, brotherly love, love of one's work, etc. ]; AFFECTION suggests warm, tender feelings, usually not as powerful or deep as those implied by LOVE [he has no affection for children ]; ATTACHMENT implies connection by ties of affection, attraction, devotion, etc. and may be felt for inanimate things as well as for people [an attachment to an old hat ]; INFATUATION implies a foolish or unreasoning passion or affection, often a transient one [an elderly man's infatuation for a young girl ]