n.
Pronunciation: ' l ə v
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English l ē of dear, Latin lub ē re, lib ē re to please
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests < love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of love <give her my love >
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion < love of the sea>
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love > b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING ― often used as a term of endearment (2) British ― used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized Christian Science : GOD
– at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
– in love : inspired by affection