[life] n, pl lives [ME lif, fr. OE lif; akin to OE libban to live--more at live] (bef. 12c) 1 a: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body b: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings--compare vitalism 1 c: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2. a: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual b: one or more aspects of the process of living "sex ~ of the frog"
3: biography 1
4: spiritual existence transcending physical death
5. a: the period from birth to death b: a specific phase of earthly existence "adult ~" c: the period from an event until death "a judge appointed for ~" d: a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life
6: a way or manner of living 7: livelihood 8: a vital or living being; specif: person "many lives were lost in the disaster" 9: an animating and shaping force or principle 10: spirit, animation "there was no ~ in her dancing" 11: the form or pattern of something existing in reality "painted from ~" 12: the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something "the expected ~ of flashlight batteries" 13: the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle)--compare half-life 14: a property (as resilience or elasticity) of an inanimate substance or object resembling the animate quality of a living being 15: living beings (as of a particular kind or environment) "forest ~" 16 a: human activities b: animate activity and movement "stirrings of ~" c: the activities of a given sphere, area, or time "the political ~ of the country" 17: one providing interest and vigor "~ of the party" 18: an opportunity for continued viability "gave the patient a new ~" 19 cap, Christian Science: god 1b 20: something resembling animate life "a grant saved the project's ~"
[2]life adj (13c) 1: of or relating to animate being
2: lifelong "a ~ member"
3: using a living model "a ~ class"
4: of, relating to, or provided by life insurance "a ~ policy"