verb (used without object),lived[livd], /lɪvd/, liv·ing.
to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions: all things that live.
to continue to have life; remain alive: to live to a ripe old age.
to continue in existence, operation, memory, etc.; last: a book that lives in my memory.
to maintain or support one's existence; provide for oneself: to live on one's income.
to feed or subsist (usually followed by on or upon): to live on rice and bananas.
to dwell or reside (usually followed by in, at, etc.): to live in a cottage.
to pass life in a specified manner: They lived happily ever after.
to direct or regulate one's life: to live by the golden rule.
to experience or enjoy to the full: At 40 she was just beginning to live.
to cohabit (usually followed by with).
to escape destruction or remain afloat, as a ship or aircraft.
verb (used with object),lived[livd], /lɪvd/, liv·ing.
to pass (life): to live a life of ease.
to practice, represent, or exhibit in one's life: to live one's philosophy.
Verb Phrases
live down,to live so as to allow (a mistake, disgrace, etc.) to be forgotten or forgiven: She'll never live that crucial moment of failure down.
live in / outto reside at or away from the place of one's employment, especially as a domestic servant: Their butler lives in, but the maids live out.
live up to,to live in accordance with (expectations or an ideal or standard); measure up to: He never lived up to his father's vision of him.
Idioms for live
live high off / on the hog. hog (def. 16).
live it up, Informal. to live in an extravagant or wild manner; pursue pleasure: He started living it up after he got out of the army.
live well, to live comfortably: They're not wealthy but they live well.
Origin of live
1
before 900; Middle English liven,Old English lifian, libban; cognate with Dutch leven,German leben,Old Norse lifa,Gothic liban
Words nearby live
litz wire, Liu Pang, Liu Shaoqi, Liuzhou, livable, live, liveable, live-action, Live and learn, Live and let live, live axle
Definition for live (2 of 2)
live2
[ lahyv ]
/ laɪv /
adjective,liv·er,liv·estfor 4-7, 13-15.
being alive; living; alive: live animals.
of, relating to, or during the life of a living being: the animal's live weight.
characterized by or indicating the presence of living creatures: the live sounds of the forest.
Informal. (of a person) energetic; alert; lively: The club members are a really live bunch.
full of life, energy or activity: His approach in any business dealing is live and fresh.
burning or glowing: live coals in the fireplace.
having resilience or bounce: a live tennis ball.
being in play, as a baseball or football.
loaded or unexploded, as a cartridge or shell: live ammunition.
made up of actual persons: to perform before a live audience.
(of a radio or television program) broadcast while happening or being performed; not prerecorded or taped: a live telecast.
being highly resonant or reverberant, as an auditorium or concert hall.
vivid or bright, as color.
of current interest or importance, as a question or issue; controversial; unsettled.
moving or imparting motion; powered: the live head on a lathe.
still in use, or to be used, as type set up or copy for printing.
Also alive .Electricity. electrically connected to a source of potential difference, or electrically charged so as to have a potential different from that of earth: a live wire.
adverb
(of a radio or television program) at the moment of its happening or being performed; not on tape or by prerecording: a program broadcast live.
Origin of live
2
1535–45; 1930–35 for def. 11; aphetic variant of alive, used attributively