■ noun ( plural lives )
1》 the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
↘living things and their activity.
2》 the existence of an individual human being or animal.
↘a particular type or aspect of human existence: school ~.
↘a biography.
↘ informal a sentence of imprisonment for ~.
↘(in various games) each of a specified number of chances each player has before being put out.
3》 the period during which something continues to exist, function, or be valid.
4》 vitality, vigour, or energy.
5》 [as modifier ] (in art) based on a living rather than an imagined form: a ~ drawing.
Phrases
come (or bring ) to ~
1》 regain or cause to regain consciousness.
2》 become or make active, lively, or interesting.
for dear (or one's ) ~ as if or in order to escape death.
for the ~ of me informal however hard I try.
as large as (or larger than ) ~ informal conspicuously present.
larger than ~ attracting attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance or behaviour.
~-and-death deciding whether someone lives or dies; vitally important.
the ~ and soul of the party a vivacious and sociable person.
a matter of ~ and death a matter of vital importance.
not on your ~ informal emphatically not.
see ~ gain a wide experience of the world.
take one's ~ in one's hands risk being killed.
Origin
OE līf , of Gmc origin; related to live 1 .