love

noun
\ ˈləv \
Definition of love
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal
tiesmaternal love for a child
(2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by
loversAfter all these years, they are still very much in love.
(3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common
interestslove for his old schoolmates
b: an assurance of affectiongive her my love
2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotionlove of the sea
3a: the object of attachment, devotion, or admirationbaseball was his
first love
b(1): a beloved person : DARLING —often used as a term of endearment
(2)British —used as an informal term of address
4a: unselfish loyal and benevolent (see BENEVOLENT SENSE 1A) concern
for the good of another: such as
(1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind
(2): brotherly concern for others
b: a person's adoration of God
5: a god (such as Cupid or Eros) or personification of love
6: an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7: the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8: a score of zero (as in tennis)
9capitalized, Christian Science : GOD
at love
: holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
in love
: inspired by affection

love
verb
\ ˈləv \
loved; loving
Definition of love (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb
1: to hold dear : CHERISH
2a: to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for
b(1): CARESS
(2): to fondle amorously
(3): to copulate with
3: to like or desire actively : take pleasure inloved to play the violin
4: to thrive inthe rose loves sunlight
intransitive verb
: to feel affection or experience desire
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Example SentencesLearn More about love
Synonyms & Antonyms for love
Synonyms: Noun

affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passion

Synonyms: Verb

appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value

Antonyms: Noun

abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor

Antonyms: Verb

disvalue
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Examples of love in a Sentence

Noun

Mr. Brown seems to imply that when he retired he relinquished her love as
casually as he dispensed with her secretarial services.— Ken Follett, New York
Times Book Review, 27 Dec. 1987 … Eddie sees Vince's pure love of pool, and
after years of thinking of the game as merely a hustle, the older man
suddenly falls back in love with the game himself.— Maureen Dowd, New York
Times Magazine, 28 Sept. 1986
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Pets In Need believes that everyone deserves the love of a pet and every
pet deserves quality care.— Jack Walkenhorst, Cincinnati.com, "Column: Shattering
preconceived notions of who is ‘in need’," 28 June 2017And after years on the job,
one commonality always rings true: a brokenness, a loneliness, an absence
of love or guidance.— Bethany Jones, Marie Claire, "I Know the Darkest Secrets of
Some of the Most Brutal Killers of Our Time," 28 June 2017
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect
current usage of the word 'love.' Views expressed in the examples do not repre sent the opinion of
Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of love

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for love
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love,
Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre to please

SOURCE: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love