/luv/ , n. , v. , loved, loving .
n.
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. ( cap. ) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
15. for love ,
a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
16. for the love of , in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
17. in love , infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
18. in love with , feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one's work.
19. make love ,
a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.
20. no love lost , dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.
v.t.
21. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
22. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
23. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
24. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
25. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
26. to have sexual intercourse with.
v.i.
27. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
28. love up , to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE lufu, c. OFris luve, OHG luba, Goth lubo; (v.) ME lov ( i ) en, OE lufian; c. OFris luvia, OHG lubon to love, L lubere (later libere ) to be pleasing; akin to LIEF ]
Syn. 1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2 . LOVE, AFFECTION, DEVOTION all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. LOVE may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. AFFECTION is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. DEVOTION is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 21. like. 22. adore, adulate, worship.
Ant. 1, 2. hatred, dislike. 21, 22 . detest, hate.