the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.
the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.
the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one.
a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.
the general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that.
any specified period of animate existence: a man in middle life.
the period of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something inanimate, as a machine, lease, or play: The life of the car may be ten years.
a living being, especially a human being: Several lives were lost.
living things collectively: the hope of discovering life on other planets; insect life.
a particular aspect of existence: He enjoys an active physical life.
the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that constitute a person's existence: His business has been his entire life.
a biography: a newly published life of Willa Cather.
animation; liveliness; spirit: a speech full of life.
resilience; elasticity.
the force that makes or keeps something alive; the vivifying or quickening principle: The life of the treaty has been an increase of mutual understanding and respect.
a mode or manner of existence, as in the world of affairs or society: So far her business life has not overlapped her social life.
the period or extent of authority, popularity, approval, etc.: the life of the committee; the life of a bestseller.
a prison sentence covering the remaining portion of the offender's animate existence: The judge gave him life.
anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life: She was his life.
a person or thing that enlivens, cheers, or brightens a gathering or group: the life of the party.
effervescence or sparkle, as of wines.
pungency or strong, sharp flavor, as of substances when fresh or in good condition.
nature or any of the forms of nature as the model or subject of a work of art: drawn from life.
Baseball. another opportunity given to a batter to bat because of a misplay by a fielder.
(in English pool) one of a limited number of shots allowed a player: Each pool player has three lives at the beginning of the game.
adjective
for or lasting a lifetime; lifelong: a life membership in a club; life imprisonment.
of or relating to animate existence: the life force; life functions.
working from nature or using a living model: a life drawing; a life class in oil painting.
VIDEO FOR LIFE
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Our lifestyle is what helps us define ourselves to others and it conveys our morals and values. But what makes something a lifestyle per se?
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Idioms for life
as large as life, actually; indeed: There he stood, as large as life.Also as big as life .
come to life,
to recover consciousness.
to become animated and vigorous: The evening passed, but somehow the party never came to life.
to appear lifelike: The characters of the novel came to life on the screen.
for dear life, with desperate effort, energy, or speed: We ran for dear life, with the dogs at our heels.Also for one's life .
for the life of one, as hard as one tries; even with the utmost effort: He can't understand it for the life of him.
get a life, to improve the quality of one's social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone's behavior: Stop wasting time with that nonsense; get a life!
not on your life, Informal. absolutely not; under no circumstances; by no means: Will I stand for such a thing? Not on your life!
take one's life in one's hands, to risk death knowingly: We were warned that we were taking our lives in our hands by going through that swampy area.
to the life, in perfect imitation; exactly: The portrait characterized him to the life.
Origin of life
before 900; Middle English lif(e); Old English līf; cognate with Dutch lijf,German Leib body, Old Norse līf life, body; akin to live1
Despite his condition, Paul maintained his social life to stave off the depression.
A Welcome Lifeline|Washington Regional Transplant Community|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Wenstrup also focused on Biden and Harris, accusing the Democrats of “playing politics with people’s lives” without responding to the reporter’s question.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Multiply that by an expected life span of at least ten years.
Can’t Afford a Sprinter? Get a Tiny Van Instead.|Emily Pennington|September 16, 2020|Outside Online
Look, you’re, you’ve spent your whole life in public service.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
“We’ve spent $8 trillion and we’ve lost thousands of lives but really millions of lives because I view both sides.”
Trump’s ABC News town hall: Four Pinocchios, over and over again|Glenn Kessler|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
His life as a man is built around health insurance and tax services.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was also an attack on our freedom of expression and way of life.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I always wanted my life to be that way, and it became that way.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I liked it because it was like my life coming back together.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It could dramatically improve quality of life in communities throughout the developing world.
Bill Gates Drinks Sewer Water|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One could see that, in both places, something like an old world dignity of life had in the past been kept up.
A Canadian Manor and Its Seigneurs|George M. Wrong
Beauchamp hugged his politics like some who show their love of the pleasures of life by taking to them angrily.
Beauchamp's Career, Complete|George Meredith
For he was in no sense as nobly human of stature, as deeply aware of the life about him, as Moussorgsky.
Musical Portraits|Paul Rosenfeld
He is here, adorning, by a life of severe simplicity and divine benevolence, the doctrine he has espoused.
Aurelian|William Ware
On the way Bova bethought him how he could have deserved such a shameful death, and to lose his life in the flower of his days.
The Russian Garland|Various
British Dictionary definitions for life
life
/ (laɪf) /
nounplurallives (laɪvz)
the state or quality that distinguishes living beings or organisms from dead ones and from inorganic matter, characterized chiefly by metabolism, growth, and the ability to reproduce and respond to stimuliRelated adjectives: animate, vital
the period between birth and death
a living person or beingto save a life
the time between birth and the present time
the remainder or extent of one's life
(as modifier)a life sentence; life membership; life subscription; life work
short for life imprisonment
the amount of time that something is active or functioningthe life of a battery
a present condition, state, or mode of existencemy life is very dull here
a biography
(as modifier)a life story
a characteristic state or mode of existencetown life
(as modifier)life style
the sum or course of human events and activities
liveliness or high spiritsfull of life
a source of strength, animation, or vitalityhe was the life of the show
all living things, taken as a wholethere is no life on Mars; plant life
sparkle, as of wines
strong or high flavour, as of fresh food
(modifier)artsdrawn or taken from a living modellife drawing; a life mask
physics another name for lifetime
(in certain games) one of a number of opportunities of participation
as large as lifeinformalreal and living
larger than lifein an exaggerated form
come to life
to become animate or conscious
to be realistically portrayed or represented
for dear lifeurgently or with extreme vigour or desperation
for the life of onethough trying desperately
go for your lifeAustralian and NZinformalan expression of encouragement
a matter of life and deatha matter of extreme urgency
not on your lifeinformalcertainly not
the life and soulinformala person regarded as the main source of merriment and livelinessthe life and soul of the party
the life of Rileyinformalan easy life
to the life(of a copy or image) resembling the original exactly
to save one's lifeinformalin spite of all considerations or attemptshe couldn't play football to save his life
the time of one's lifea memorably enjoyable time
true to lifefaithful to reality
Word Origin for life
Old English līf; related to Old High German lib, Old Norse līf life, body
The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism.
The characteristic state or condition of a living organism.
The properties or qualities that distinguish living plants and organisms from dead or inanimate matter, including the capacity to grow, metabolize nutrients, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and adapt to the environment. The definitive beginning and end of human life are complex concepts informed by medical, legal, sociological, and religious considerations.
Living organisms considered as a group, such as the plants or animals of a given region.