love

noun

UK /lʌv/

Word Forms

singular	love
plural	loves

1
uncountable a very strong emotional and sexual feeling for someone
love for:
the speech in which Romeo expresses his love for Juliet
in love (with someone):
I think I’m in love.
fall in love (with someone) (=to start to love someone):
They met and fell in love at college.
head over heels in love/madly in love (=very much in love):
She’s madly in love with a guy she met in Spain.
true love (=love that lasts forever):
I’m not sure I believe in true love.
unrequited love (=when you love someone but they do not love you):
a true story of unrequited love
unconditional love (=love that forgives everything and asks for nothing):
Laura was thankful for her father’s support and unconditional love.
love blossoms/grows:
Their love blossomed over the years.
love at first sight (=when you love someone from the first time you see them):
It was love at first sight when I met Allan.
Synonyms and related words
Feelings of love, respect and admiration
love
respect
passion
2
uncountable the feeling of liking and caring for someone such as a member of your family or a close friend
love and affection:
Children need a lot of love and affection.
love for:
his love for his brother
Synonyms and related words
Friendship and feelings of friendship
friendship
love
companionship
1. 2a
  used about things, ideas, places etc
  love of/for:
  He was someone with a great love of life.
  Patriotism may be defined as love for one’s country.
  Synonyms and related words
  To like something
  like
  love
  adore
3
countable someone who you have a sexual or romantic relationship with
first love:
the boy who was her first love
the love of your life (=the person you have loved most):
He had lost the love of his life.
Synonyms and related words
Someone who is loved or loves
lover
admirer
love
Synonyms and related words
A man or woman someone is having a relationship with
lover
love
significant other
1. 3a
  something that you enjoy very much
  Music was his greatest love.
  Synonyms and related words
  Enjoyable things and experiences
  activity
  amusement
  binge
4
countable Britishsomeone who you like very much because they are kind
He’s a real love.
Synonyms and related words
Someone who is kind, generous or helpful
saint
gem
angel
5
uncountable used at the end of a letter to someone you know well
love (from):
Hope to see you soon. Love, Ray.
lots of love (from):
Take care. Lots of love, Helen.
all my love (=used for writing to someone you love):
I can’t wait to see you. All my love, Douglas.
Synonyms and related words
Expressions used in letters and correspondence
Dear
postscript
love
6
singular Britishused for talking to your husband, wife, girlfriend etc
Did that letter arrive, love?
my love:
You know I’ll never leave you, my love.
Synonyms and related words
Names used for talking to someone in a friendly way
love
darling
mate
1. 6a
  used by some people when talking to a woman whose name they do not know. Some women find this offensive
  That’ll be three pounds, love.
  Synonyms and related words
  Names used for talking to people you don’t know
  madam
  miss
  love
  Synonyms and related words
  Names used for talking to women or girls
  love
  miss
  babe
7
uncountable a score of no points in tennis
forty-love
Synonyms and related words
Tennis
ace
advantage
bagel
8
love is blind
when you are in love with someone, it is difficult to see their faults
To me, he’s really irresponsible, but she loves him. Well, love is blind.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 25/02/2019
Open Dictionary - February2019

phrases

be a love and . . .

for the love of God

give/send your love to someone

make love

not for love nor money

there is no love lost between someone and someone

love

noun

US /lʌv/

Word Forms

singular	love
plural	loves

1
uncountable a very strong emotional and sexual feeling for someone
love for:
the speech in which Romeo expresses his love for Juliet
in love (with someone):
I think I’m in love.
fall in love (with someone) (=to start to love someone):
They met and fell in love at college.
head over heels in love/madly in love (=very much in love):
She’s madly in love with a guy she met in Spain.
true love (=love that lasts forever):
I’m not sure I believe in true love.
unrequited love (=when you love someone but they do not love you):
a true story of unrequited love
love blossoms/grows:
Their love blossomed over the years.
unconditional love (=love that forgives everything and asks for nothing):
Laura was thankful for her father’s support and unconditional love.
love at first sight (=when you love someone from the first time you see them):
It was love at first sight when I met Allan.
Synonyms and related words
Feelings of love, respect and admiration
love
respect
passion
2
uncountable the feeling of liking and caring for someone such as a member of your family or a close friend
love and affection:
Children need a lot of love and affection.
love for:
his love for his brother
Synonyms and related words
Friendship and feelings of friendship
friendship
love
companionship
1. 2a
  used about things, ideas, places, etc.
  love of/for:
  He was someone with a great love of life.
  Patriotism may be defined as love for one’s country.
  Synonyms and related words
  To like something
  like
  dig
  be averse to something
3
countable someone who you have a sexual or romantic relationship with
first love:
the boy who was her first love
the love of your life (=the person you have loved most):
He had lost the love of his life.
Synonyms and related words
Someone who is loved or loves
lover
admirer
love
Synonyms and related words
A man or woman someone is having a relationship with
lover
love
significant other
1. 3a
  something that you enjoy very much
  Music was his greatest love.
  Synonyms and related words
  Enjoyable things and experiences
  activity
  amusement
  binge
4
countable Britishsomeone who you like very much because they are kind
He’s a real love.
Synonyms and related words
Someone who is kind, generous or helpful
saint
treasure
angel
5
uncountable used at the end of a letter to someone you know well
love (from):
Hope to see you soon. Love, Ray.
lots of love (from):
Take care. Lots of love, Helen.
all my love (=used for writing to someone you love):
I can’t wait to see you. All my love, Douglas.
Synonyms and related words
Expressions used in letters and correspondence
Dear
love
postscript
6
singular Britishused for talking to your husband, wife, girlfriend, etc.
Did that letter arrive, love?
Synonyms and related words
Names used for talking to someone in a friendly way
mate
babe
bud
1. 6a
  used by some people when talking to a woman whose name they do not know. Some women find this offensive
  That’ll be three pounds, love.
  Synonyms and related words
  Names used for talking to people you don’t know
  madam
  miss
  ma’am
  Synonyms and related words
  Names used for talking to women or girls
  miss
  babe
  baby
7
uncountable a score of no points in tennis
forty-love
Synonyms and related words
Tennis
ace
ace
advantage
8
love is blind
when you are in love with someone, it is difficult to see their faults
To me, he’s really irresponsible, but she loves him. Well, love is blind.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 25/02/2019
Open Dictionary - February2019

phrases

be a love and . . .

give/send your love to someone

make love

not for love or money

there is no love lost between someone and someone

love

verb transitive

UK /lʌv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	love
he/she/it	loves
present participle	loving
past tense	loved
past participle	loved

1
never progressiveto be very strongly attracted to someone in an emotional and sexual way
I love you.
We love each other, and we’re going to get married.
Synonyms and related words
To love or like a person
love
care for
adore
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with love
▪ dearly, deeply, passionately, really, truly
2
never progressiveto care very much about someone, especially members of your family or close friends
She loved her children with all her heart.
love someone dearly:
I’ve known Jack for years and I love him dearly.
Synonyms and related words
To love or like a person
love
care for
adore
1. 2a
  used about places, ideas etc
  She went back to the country she loved.
  Those who love money will never find happiness.
  Synonyms and related words
  To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
  like
  enjoy
  go in for
3
never passivemainly spokento like or enjoy something very much
Lucy loves chocolate.
We went to Corfu last year and loved it.
I’ve been retired for a year now and I’m loving every minute of it.
I would love a glass of wine (=would like one very much).
love to do something:
I would love to see them again.
love doing something:
Ben loves playing the piano.
love nothing more/better than:
I love nothing better than having a really good meal with a few close friends.
Synonyms and related words
To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
like
enjoy
go in for
Synonyms and related words
To like something
like
love
adore

phrases

don’t you just love it

I’d love to

I love it

love them and leave them

love to hate

you’re/he’s etc going to love this

love

verb transitive

US /lʌv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	love
he/she/it	loves
present participle	loving
past tense	loved
past participle	loved

1
never passivemainly spokento like or enjoy something very much
We went to Vancouver last year and loved it.
Lucy loves chocolate.
I’ve been retired for a year now and I’m loving every minute of it.
I would love a glass of wine (=would like one very much).
love to do something:
I would love to see them again.
love doing something:
Ben loves playing the piano.
love nothing more/better than:
I love nothing better than having a really good meal with a few close friends.
Synonyms and related words
To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
enjoy
like
delight in
Synonyms and related words
To like something
like
dig
be averse to something
2
never progressiveto be very strongly attracted to someone in an emotional and sexual way
I love you.
We love each other, and we’re going to get married.
Synonyms and related words
To love or like a person
love
care for
adore
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with love
▪ dearly, deeply, passionately, really, truly
3
never progressiveto care very much about someone, especially members of your family or close friends
She loved her children with all her heart.
love someone dearly:
I’ve known Jack for years and I love him dearly.
Synonyms and related words
To love or like a person
love
care for
adore
1. 3a
  used about places, ideas, etc.
  She went back to the country she loved.
  Those who love money will never find happiness.
  Synonyms and related words
  To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
  enjoy
  like
  delight in

phrases

don’t you just love it

I’d love to

I love it

love them and leave them

love to hate

you’re/he’s etc. going to love this

love ​‌‌‌

love is blind

love ​‌‌‌

love is blind

love ​‌‌‌

love ​‌‌‌

love

love

love

love