love [luhv] noun, verb, loved, lov·ing.
–noun
1. a profoundly tender, passionate
affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal
attachment or deep affection, as for a
parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt;
beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of
endearment, affection, or the like):
Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous
incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. (initial capital letter) a personification
of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-
being of others: the love of one's
neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or
liking for anything: her love of
books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The
theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of God for
His creatures, or the reverent
affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero;
nothing.
14. a word formerly used in
communications to represent the
letter L.
–verb (used with object)
15. to have love or affection for: All her
pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender,
passionate affection for (another
person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great
pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly
from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a
lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object)
21. to have love or affection for another
person; be in love.
—Verb phrase
22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She
loves him up every chance she gets.
—Idioms
23. for love,
a. out of affection or liking; for
pleasure.
b. without compensation;
gratuitously: He took care of
the poor for love.
24. for the love of, in consideration of;
for the sake of: For the love of
mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep
affection or passion: a youth always
in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection
or passion for (a person, idea,
occupation, etc.); enamored of: in
love with the girl next door; in love
with one's work.
27. make love,
a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.