- 1 [uncountable] a strong feeling of deep affection for somebody/something, especially a member of your family or a friend a mother’s love for her children love of your country He seems incapable of love. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveall-consuming, burning, deep, … verb + lovefeel, have, experience, … love + verbbloom, blossom, grow, … love + nounaffair, triangle, life, … prepositionfor love, out of love, in love, … phrasesan act of love, deeply in love, madly in love, … See full entry See related entries: Romance, Love romantic
- 2 [uncountable] a strong feeling of affection for somebody that you are sexually attracted to a love song/story We're in love! She was in love with him. They fell in love with each other. It was love at first sight (= they were attracted to each other the first time they met). They're madly in love. Their love grew with the years. Wordfinderloveaffair, date, go out with somebody, jealous, love, marriage, partner, passionate, relationship, romantic Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveall-consuming, burning, deep, … verb + lovefeel, have, experience, … love + verbbloom, blossom, grow, … love + nounaffair, triangle, life, … prepositionfor love, out of love, in love, … phrasesan act of love, deeply in love, madly in love, … See full entry See related entries: Love enjoyment
- 3 [uncountable, singular] the strong feeling of enjoyment that something gives you a love of learning He's in love with his work. I fell in love with the house. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveall-consuming, burning, deep, … verb + lovefeel, have, experience, … love + verbbloom, blossom, grow, … love + nounaffair, triangle, life, … prepositionfor love, out of love, in love, … phrasesan act of love, deeply in love, madly in love, … See full entry somebody/something you like
- 4 [countable] a person, a thing or an activity that you like very much Take care, my love. He was the love of my life (= the person I loved most). I like most sports but tennis is my first love. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveall-consuming, burning, deep, … verb + lovefeel, have, experience, … love + verbbloom, blossom, grow, … love + nounaffair, triangle, life, … prepositionfor love, out of love, in love, … phrasesan act of love, deeply in love, madly in love, … See full entry friendly name
- 5[countable] (British English, informal) a word used as a friendly way of addressing somebody Can I help you, love? compare duck in tennis
- 6[uncountable] a score of zero (points or games) 40–love! She won the first set six–love/six games to love. See related entries: Tennis Word OriginOld English lufu, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit lubhyati ‘desires’, Latin libet ‘it is pleasing’, libido ‘desire’, also by the noun leave and lief.Extra examples At last she had found true love. Can true love prevail? Do you believe in love at first sight? Does she doubt my love for her? From John, she received the love she had never received from her father. He developed a lifelong love of music. He did not know how to express his love for her. He didn’t return her love. He fell in love with one of his students. He had a great love of life. He had an abiding love of the English countryside. He had never known true love until now. He wanted to make love to her. He would do almost anything to prove his love for her. His wealth enabled him to indulge his love of fast cars. I couldn’t hide my love for her any longer. I did it for love! I don’t deserve his love. I like most sports but tennis is my first love. I was madly in love with her. In his music dramas, love conquers all. It gave me the opportunity to pursue my love of music. Love blossomed between the two of them She felt no love for him. She has earned the love and respect of many people. She plays his love interest in the film. She was the love of his life. Soul Survivors is a story of lost love. The poem is a celebration of married love. They fell head over heels in love. They lavish love on Selah, their cat. They publicly declared their love for each other. They share a love of music. They were into free love and avoided commitment. We are very much in love. We want to foster a love of learning in all children. You have my undying love. a party with family and friends to celebrate their love a play about thwarted love a sad tale of unrequited love her deep love for him the cult of courtly love in the 12th century the love between parent and child It was love at first sight. People say there is nothing greater than a mother’s love for her children. She was madly/deeply in love with him. a love song/storyIdioms
affection
(saying) in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want
(British English) affection that somebody, especially a child, shows towards somebody else in order to get something
without receiving payment or any other reward They're all volunteers, working for the love of it.
(old-fashioned, informal) used when you are expressing anger and the fact that you are impatient For the love of God, tell me what he said!
(informal) used to send good wishes to somebody Give my love to Mary when you see her. Bob sends his love.
loving somebody very much He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss.
a hard task that you do because you want to, not because it is necessary Writing the book was a labour of love.
(informal) used at the end of a letter to a friend or to somebody you love, followed by your name Lots of love, Jenny
(saying) when you love somebody, you cannot see their faults
to have sex It was the first time they had made love.
if you say you cannot do something for love nor money, you mean it is completely impossible to do it We couldn't find a taxi for love nor money.
they do not like each other There's no love lost between her and her in-laws.
Check pronunciation: love
