Definition of love
1 a (1)
: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
- maternal love for a child
(2)
: attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers
- After all these years, they are still very much in love.
(3)
: affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests
- love for his old schoolmates
b
: an assurance of affection
- give her my love
2
: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
- love of the sea
3 a
: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration
- baseball 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
4 a
: unselfish loyal and benevolent (see benevolent 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)
