Definition of love
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(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
After all these years, they are still very much in love.
(3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests
love for his old schoolmates
b : an assurance of affection
give her my love
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
love of the sea
3a : 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
4a : unselfish loyal and benevolent (see benevolent sense 1a) concern for the good of another: such as
(1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind
(2) : brotherly concern for others
b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god (such as Cupid or Eros) or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : love affair
7 : the sexual embrace : copulation
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
at love in love
: holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
: inspired by affection
love
verbloved; loving
Definition of love (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to hold dear : cherish
2a : to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for
3 : to like or desire actively : take pleasure in
loved to play the violin
4 : to thrive in
the rose loves sunlight
: to feel affection or experience desire
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Time Traveler for love
The first known use of love was before the 12th century
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