love */*/*/

I UK [lʌv] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "love":
present tense I/you/we/they love he/she/it loves present participle loving past tense loved past participle loved

Metaphor:

When you love someone very deeply, it feels as if you are physically weak or falling over. The effect that an attractive person has on you is like being hit or knocked over by them. Just looking at him makes me go weak at the knees. ♦ I fell for Molly in a big way. ♦ Do you remember the first time you fell in love? ♦ I'd never met anyone like Jack – he just swept me off my feet. ♦ I was bowled over by his charm and good looks. ♦ Anyone can see they're head over heels in love. ♦ That girl is an absolute knockout. ♦ He's drop-dead gorgeous. ♦ He's always had a bit of a weakness for brunettes. ♦ She felt helpless with desire. Sexual love is like fire or heat. Their new singer's really hot. ♦ I bumped into an old flame yesterday. ♦ It was a fiery, passionate relationship. ♦ His touch inflamed her senses. ♦ She gave him a smouldering look. ♦ His eyes burned with desire. ♦ The movie includes some steamy sex scenes. ♦ Sara felt herself melting into his arms. ➡ feeling, want

1) [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.

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Collocations:
Adverbs frequently used with love
▪  dearly, deeply, passionately, really, truly

2)

a) [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.

b) used about places, ideas etc

She went back to the country she loved.

Those who love money will never find happiness.

3) [never passive] mainly spoken to 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.

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you're/he's etc going to love this — spoken used for saying that someone will enjoy what you are going to tell them; spoken used for saying that someone will not like what you are going to tell them

- don't you just love it

- I'd love to

- I love it

- love them and leave them

- love to hate

II UK [lʌv] / US noun
Word forms "love":
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.

2)

a) [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

b) 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.

3)

a) [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.

b) something that you enjoy very much

Music was his greatest love.

4) [countable] British someone who you like very much because they are kind

He's a real love.

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.

6)

a) [singular] British used for talking to your husband, wife, girlfriend etc

Did that letter arrive, love?

my love:

You know I'll never leave you, my love.

b) 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) [uncountable] a score of no points in tennis

forty-love

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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 next see her.

- for the love of God

- make love

- not for love nor money

- there is no love lost between someone and someone