pas ‧ sion W3 /ˈpæʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Late Latin passio 'suffering' , from Latin pati 'to suffer' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a very strong feeling of sexual love ⇨ desire :
His eyes were burning with passion.
passion for
her passion for a married man
2 . [uncountable and countable] a very strong belief or feeling about something
with passion
He spoke with considerable passion about the importance of art and literature.
The issue arouses strong passions.
3 . [countable] a very strong liking for something
passion for
his passion for football
Gardening was her great passion.
4 . fly into a passion literary to suddenly become very angry
⇨ crime of passion at ↑ crime (5)
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ great passion
The orchestra plays with great passion.
▪ strong passions
In this area, the issue has already stirred strong passions.
■ verbs
▪ arouse/stir passions (=cause strong feelings in people)
The case aroused passions throughout the country.
■ phrases
▪ passions run high (=people are very excited, angry, or upset)
The judge's decision is expected today and passions are running high.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ adjectives
▪ a great passion
Birds were my great passion.
▪ a lifelong passion
His lifelong passion for natural history began in childhood.
▪ a consuming passion (=a very strong interest, or something you are very interested in)
The young Wordsworth had a consuming passion for poetry.
|
For years, acting and the stage had been his consuming passion.
■ verbs
▪ have a passion for something
She had a passion for music.
▪ indulge your passion for something (=do something that you enjoy doing very much)
The money enabled him to indulge his passion for horses.