v. 1 intr. have (esp. animal) life; be or remain alive. 2 intr. (foll. by on) subsist or feed (lives on fruit). 3 intr. (foll. by on, off) depend for subsistence (lives off the family; lives on income from investments). 4 intr. (foll. by on, by) sustain one's position or repute (live on their reputation; lives by his wits). 5 tr. a (with compl.) spend, pass, experience (lived a happy life). b express in one's life (was living a lie). 6 intr. conduct oneself in a specified way (live quietly). 7 intr. arrange one's habits, expenditure, feeding, etc. (live modestly). 8 intr. make or have one's abode. 9 intr. (foll. by in) spend the daytime (the room does not seem to be lived in). 10 intr. (of a person or thing) survive. 11 intr. (of a ship) escape destruction. 12 intr. enjoy life intensely or to the full (you haven't lived till you've drunk champagne). live and let live condone others' failings so as to be similarly tolerated. live down (usu. with neg.) cause (past guilt, embarrassment, etc.) to be forgotten by different conduct over a period of time (you'll never live that down!). live in Brit. (of a domestic employee) reside on the premises of one's work. live-in attrib.adj. (of a sexual partner) cohabiting. live it up colloq. live gaily and extravagantly. live out 1 survive (a danger, difficulty, etc.). 2 (of a domestic employee) reside away from one's place of work. live through survive; remain alive at the end of. live to survive and reach (lived to a great age). live to oneself live in isolation. live together (esp. of a man and woman not married to each other) share a home and have a sexual relationship. live up to honour or fulfil; put into practice (principles etc.). live with 1 share a home with. 2 tolerate; find congenial. long live ...! an exclamation of loyalty (to a person etc. specified).
[ OE libban, lifian, f. Gmc ]