Meaning of "love" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD LOVE

Old English lufu; related to Old High German luba; compare also Latin libēre (originally lubēre) to please.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF LOVE

love  [lʌv]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF LOVE

Love is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb love in English.

WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Love

Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals. Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or familiarity, friendship, sexual and/or romantic desire, and self-emptying or divine love. Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.

Definition of love in the English dictionary

The first definition of love in the dictionary is to have a great attachment to and affection for. Other definition of love is to have passionate desire, longing, and feelings for. Love is also to like or desire very much.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO LOVE

PRESENT

Present

I love

you love

he/she/it loves

we love

you love

they love

Present continuous

I am loving

you are loving

he/she/it is loving

we are loving

you are loving

they are loving

Present perfect

I have loved

you have loved

he/she/it has loved

we have loved

you have loved

they have loved

Present perfect continuous

I have been loving

you have been loving

he/she/it has been loving

we have been loving

you have been loving

they have been loving

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I loved

you loved

he/she/it loved

we loved

you loved

they loved

Past continuous

I was loving

you were loving

he/she/it was loving

we were loving

you were loving

they were loving

Past perfect

I had loved

you had loved

he/she/it had loved

we had loved

you had loved

they had loved

Past perfect continuous

I had been loving

you had been loving

he/she/it had been loving

we had been loving

you had been loving

they had been loving

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will love

you will love

he/she/it will love

we will love

you will love

they will love

Future continuous

I will be loving

you will be loving

he/she/it will be loving

we will be loving

you will be loving

they will be loving

Future perfect

I will have loved

you will have loved

he/she/it will have loved

we will have loved

you will have loved

they will have loved

Future perfect continuous

I will have been loving

you will have been loving

he/she/it will have been loving

we will have been loving

you will have been loving

they will have been loving

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would love

you would love

he/she/it would love

we would love

you would love

they would love

Conditional continuous

I would be loving

you would be loving

he/she/it would be loving

we would be loving

you would be loving

they would be loving

Conditional perfect

I would have love

you would have love

he/she/it would have love

we would have love

you would have love

they would have love

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been loving

you would have been loving

he/she/it would have been loving

we would have been loving

you would have been loving

they would have been loving

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you love
we let´s love
you love

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to love

Past participle

loved

Present Participle

loving

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «LOVE»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «love» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of love

adoration · adore · adulate · adulation · affection · amity · angel · appreciate · ardour · aroha · attachment · beloved · canoodle · caress · charity · cherish · commiseration · compassion · compliments · condolence · cuddle · darling · dear · dearest · desire · devotion · embrace · endearment · enjoy · enjoyment · fancy · fellow feeling · fondle · fondness · friendliness · friendship · heart · honey · humanity · idolize · infatuation · intimacy · kindness · kiss · leman · like · liking · loved one · lover · LUV · mercy · neck · passion · pet · pity · prize · rapture · regard · regards · relish · savour · sorrow · sweet · sweetheart · sympathy · taste · tenderness · think the world of · treasure · truelove · understanding · warmth · worship

TRANSLATION OF LOVE

Find out the translation of love to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of love from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «love» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 爱
• Translator English - Spanish: amor
• English: love
• Translator English - Hindi: प्यार
• Translator English - Arabic: حُبٌ
• Translator English - Russian: любовь
• Translator English - Portuguese: amor
• Translator English - Bengali: ভালবাসা
• Translator English - French: amour
• Translator English - Malay: Cinta
• Translator English - German: Liebe
• Translator English - Japanese: 愛
• Translator English - Korean: 사랑
• Translator English - Javanese: Katresnan
• Translator English - Vietnamese: tình yêu
• Translator English - Tamil: அன்பு
• Translator English - Marathi: प्रेम
• Translator English - Turkish: Aşk
• Translator English - Italian: amore
• Translator English - Polish: miłość
• Translator English - Ukrainian: кохання
• Translator English - Romanian: iubire
• Translator English - Greek: αγάπη
• Translator English - Afrikaans: liefde
• Translator English - Swedish: kärlek
• Translator English - Norwegian: kjærlighet

10 QUOTES WITH «LOVE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word love.

1

Stephen Amell

I would love to be nominated for an award at some point or do something that at least engenders the type of cultural conversation that a role like Giancarlo Esposito on 'Breaking Bad,' or actually any of the people on 'Breaking Bad.' I would love to have a role in a feature film that was a cultural talking point.

2

Anacreon

I both love and do not love; and am mad and not mad.

3

Dario Argento

The Opera was a very cold film, a hopeless and dark film, no hope, no love.

4

Saint Teresa of Avila

Whenever we think of Christ, we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him.

5

Clare Balding

I really love good food occasionally, but I need time to enjoy it, and I need to be hungry.

6

Rebecca Black

I would love to be like Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez. They were catapulted into stardom when they were so young - like I was - and they still haven't gone down the wrong path and I hope neither or them will. I find that really inspiring.

7

Melanie Brown

I'm always down for a Spice Girls reunion. I love the Scary hair and platforms. Any time of day or night I'll be there.

8

Jean de la Bruyere

At the beginning and at the end of love, the two lovers are embarrassed to find themselves alone.

9

Nicolas Chamfort

There are more people who wish to be loved than there are who are willing to love.

10

Allen Covert

I was obsessed with movies when I was younger. During the summer, I would go by myself to a theater down the street from my house. I saw every comedy or science fiction movie that came out. My kids love going to the movies, but 3D scares them.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «LOVE»

Discover the use of love in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to love and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Love

Readers will fall for this thoughtful and quirky treasury of Edward Monkton's bestselling words of wisdom on relationships.

Edward Monkton, 2009

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He ...

A Message That WorksBased on over three decades of counseling, as well as scientific and biblical research, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and his wife, Sarah, have already taken the Love and Respect message across America and are changing the way ...

Emerson Eggerichs, 2004

The Love Dare

Each reading includes Scripture, a statement of principle, the day's dare, and a journaling area and check box to chart progress. Dare to take The Love Dare, and see your marriage change forever.

Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick, Lawrence Kimbrough, 2009

Love: A Sketch

This short text, originally written in 1969 by the eminent. German social theorist Niklas Luhmann, goes a long way to redressing this neglect.

Niklas Luhmann, André Kieserling, 2010

Women Who Love Too Much

Updated with a new foreword and revised text, a twentieth anniversary release of a top-selling reference counsels women on how to end destructive cycles of co-dependence and misogyny, in a guide that shares case histories of women who have ...

Robin Norwood, 2008

Why Love Hurts: A Sociological Explanation

This book argues that the modern romantic experience and the selection of a partner is shaped by a fundamental transformation in the ecology and architecture of romantic choice.

Eva Illouz, 2012

Erotic Love Poems from India: A Translation of the Amarushataka

This collection, known in Sanskrit as theAmarushataka("One Hundred Poems of Amaru"), was compiled in the eighth century and remains to this day one of India's finest collections of love poetry.

Amaru, 2004

100 Love Sonnets

As Gabriel García Márquez stated: “Pablo Neruda is the greatest poet of the twentieth century – in any language.” And, this is the finest translation available, anywhere!

Pablo Neruda, 2007

Azanian Love Song

Donato Francesco Mattera has been celebrated as a journalist, editor, writer and poet.

Don Mattera, 2011

Love

This book illustrates love in all its strength and variety.

Jp. A. Calosse, 2011

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «LOVE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term love is used in the context of the following news items.

Blake Shelton's Divorce With Miranda Lambert: He's Still 'Madly In …

The country stars have always spoken publicly about their strong relationship, and it seemed like they were so deeply in love! But apparently ... «Hollywood Life, Jul 15»

Love is a Choice More than a Feeling | World of Psychology

Most of us tend to focus on falling in love and use the feeling of love to determine the duration of a relationship. Falling in love is easy to do, ... «PsychCentral.com, Jul 15»

China's Love Affair With Irresistible Korean TV - The New York Times

BEIJING — China's obsession with a South Korean television show about a 400-year-old Harvard-educated alien who falls in love with an ... «New York Times, Jul 15»

'Everlasting Love' Review: Marcal Fores' Cruising Thriller | Variety

Into the woods go the lovelorn loners and sexual thrill seekers of “Everlasting Love,” an eerie little arthouse chiller set in and around a secluded ... «Variety, Jul 15»

Season Wrap-Up: KEVIN LOVE | Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA.com

Love underwent surgery just days later and was forced to watch the Wine and Gold's 2015 title run in a sling and a suit on the sidelines. «Cavs.com, Jul 15»

Jon Gosselin has found love again as new girlfriend's identity is …

Jon Gosselin has found love again as new girlfriend's identity is revealed... and she's already 'been living with him for eight months'. «Daily Mail, Jul 15»

So how did Taylor finally find true love? This 'magical' Lady Gaga …

Forget the years of trials, heartbreak and thousands of first dates — turns out, all you need to find true love is Lady Gaga to tweet at you. «USA TODAY, Jul 15»

How to Get Into Work You Love In 5 Easy Steps | Katy MacKinnon …

The first step is to get more clarity about what is your vision for your work. Even if you aren't sure exactly what you want to do, you can focus on ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»

Love and hate between Greece and the west - FT.com

One concerns the love-hate relationship between Greece and the west, a complex set of attitudes that date to the 1821-32 war of Greek ... «Financial Times, Jul 15»

Jordan Harper's 'Love and Other Wounds' Revitalizes the Modern …

Love and Other Wounds is the first product of fiction from a former music journalist and film critic who currently writes and produces on the Fox ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»