1a strong feeling of affection:babies fill parents with intense feelings of lovetheir love for their country
a strong feeling of affection and sexual attraction for someone:they were both in love with herwe were slowly falling in love
affectionate greetings conveyed to someone on one’s behalf:give her my love
a formula for ending an affectionate letter:take care, lots of love, Judy
2a great interest and pleasure in something:his love for footballwe share a love of music
3 [count noun] a person or thing that one loves:she was the love of his lifetheir two great loves are tobacco and whisky
British informal a friendly form of address:it’s all right, love
(a love) informal used in affectionate requests:don’t fret, there’s a love
4(in tennis, squash, and some other sports) a score of zero; nil:love fifteen
[apparently from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money); folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero]
verb
[with object]
feel deep affection or sexual love for (someone):do you love me?
like or enjoy very much:I’d love a cup of teaI just love dancing
Phrases
for love
for pleasure rather than profit:he played for the love of the game
for the love of God
used to accompany an urgent request or to express annoyance or surprise:for the love of God, get me out of here!
for the love of Mike
British informal used to accompany an exasperated request or to express dismay:for the love of Mike take off those shoes!
love me, love my dog
proverb if you love someone, you must accept everything about them, even their faults.
make love
1have sexual intercourse:one of the young men makes love to a village girlin the morning they made love
2 (make love to) dated pay amorous attention to (someone).
not for love or money
informal not in any circumstances:they’ll not return for love or money
there's no (or little or not much) love lost between
there is mutual dislike between (the people mentioned):there’s no love lost between Scott and me
Derivatives
loveworthy
adjective
Origin:
Old Englishlufu, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit lubhyati 'desires', Latin libet 'it is pleasing', libido 'desire', also by leave2 and lief
