love

love1 [ lʌv ] verb transitive ***

1. ) never passive MAINLY SPOKEN to 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: Bert loves playing the piano.

love nothing more/better than: I love nothing better than having a really good meal with a few close friends.

2. ) never progressive to 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.

3. ) never progressive to 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.

a ) used about places, ideas, etc.:

She went back to the country she loved.

Those who love money will never find happiness.

don't you just love it SPOKEN

used when you think something is not fair or when something has gone wrong

I'd love to SPOKEN

used for saying that you would like to do what someone has suggested

I love it SPOKEN

used for saying that you think something is funny

love them and leave them INFORMAL

if someone loves them and leaves them, they have a lot of sexual relationships that they end after a short time without caring about the feelings of the other person

love to hate

used for saying that someone takes pleasure in disliking someone or something:

She's the character that viewers love to hate.

you're/he's etc. going to love this SPOKEN

1. ) used for saying that someone will enjoy what you are going to tell them

2. ) used for saying that someone will not like what you are going to tell them

love

love 2 [ lʌv ] noun ***

▸ 1 romantic/sexual feeling

▸ 2 feeling of liking/caring

▸ 3 someone/something you love

▸ 4 kind person

▸ 5 used at end of letter

▸ 6 used for talking to someone

▸ 7 no points in tennis

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount 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 have very strong feelings about 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 fall in love with someone from the first time you see them): It was love at first sight when I met Allan.

2. ) uncount 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

a ) love of/for used about things, ideas, places, etc.:

He was someone with a great love of life.

Patriotism may be defined as love for one's country.

─ opposite HATE

3. ) count someone 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.

a ) something that you enjoy very much:

Music was his greatest love.

4. ) count BRITISH someone you like very much because they are kind: DEAR:

He's a real love.

5. ) uncount 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.

6. ) singular BRITISH used for talking to your husband, wife, girlfriend, etc.:

Did that letter arrive, love?

a ) 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.

7. ) uncount a score of no points in tennis:

forty-love

be a love and . . . BRITISH SPOKEN

used for asking a child or someone in your family to do something for you:

Be a love and pass me my glasses.

give/send your love to someone SPOKEN

used for asking someone to give your greetings to someone else:

Give my love to your mother when you see her.

make love

1. ) to have sex with someone

2. ) OLD-FASHIONED when a man makes love to a woman, he speaks to her in a romantic way

not for love or money INFORMAL

used for emphasizing that something is not available or possible, or that you will not do it:

I couldn't find the keys for love or money.

there is no love lost between someone and someone

used for saying that two people do not like each other