I. ˈləv noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre 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
- in love
II. verb
( loved ; lov·ing )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to hold dear : cherish
2.
a. : to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for
b.
(1) : caress
(2) : to fondle amorously
(3) : to copulate with
3. : to like or desire actively : take pleasure in
loved to play the violin
4. : to thrive in
the rose love s sunlight
intransitive verb
: to feel affection or experience desire