What is love? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of love

lovenoun

tình yêu, lòng yêu thương, yêu, thích

/lʌv/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>love</b>

Where does the word love come from?

The Proto-Germanic word is thought to have come from the Proto-Indo-European root "*leubh-," which meant "to care for" or "to be eager." This root is also the source of other words for love and affection across various Indo-European languages, such as Latin "amor" and Greek "agape." Over time, the spelling and meaning of the word "love" have evolved, but its essence of deep affection and feeling has remained constant.

Vocabulary summary love

typenoun

meaninglove

exampleto love one another

examplea mother's love for her children

meaninglove, affair, affection

exampleto love sports

exampleto love music

examplehe loves to be praised

meaninglover

typetransitive verb

meaninglove

exampleto love one another

examplea mother's love for her children

meaninglike, prefer

exampleto love sports

exampleto love music

examplehe loves to be praised

Example of vocabulary loveliking and caring

meaning

a very strong feeling of liking and caring for somebody/something, especially a member of your family or a friend

  • She has earned the love and respect of many people.
  • a mother’s unconditional love for her children
  • love of your country

Example of vocabulary loveromantic

meaning

a strong feeling of romantic attraction for somebody

  • I'm sure you will find true love.
  • We're in love!
  • They're madly in love.
  • She has been in and out of love many times.
  • She was in love with him.

Example of vocabulary lovepleasure

meaning

the strong feeling of pleasure that something gives you

  • They shared a love of learning.
  • her love for her garden
  • He's in love with his work.
  • I fell in love with the house.

Example of vocabulary lovesomebody/something you like

meaning

a person, a thing or an activity that you like very much

  • Take care, my love.
  • He was the love of my life (= the person I loved most).
  • I like most sports but tennis is my first love.

Example of vocabulary lovefriendly name

meaning

a word used as a friendly way of addressing somebody

  • Can I help you, love?

Example of vocabulary lovein tennis

meaning

a score of zero (points or games)

  • 40–love!
  • She won the first set six-love/six games to love.

Synonyms and related words for love

Idioms of vocabulary love

all’s fair in love and war
(saying)in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want
    cupboard love
    (British English, old-fashioned)love that somebody, especially a child, shows towards somebody else in order to get something
      (just) for love | (just) for the love of something
      without receiving payment or any other reward
      • They're all volunteers, working for the love of it.
      for the love of God
      (old-fashioned, informal)used when you are expressing anger and the fact that you are impatient
      • For the love of God, tell me what he said!
      give/send my love to somebody
      (informal)used to send good wishes to somebody
      • Give my love to Mary when you see her.
      • Bob sends his love.
      head over heels in love
      loving somebody very much
      • He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss.
      a labour of love
      a hard task that you do because you want to, not because it is necessary
      • Writing the book was a labour of love.
      love from | (lots of) love (from)
      (informal)used at the end of a letter to a friend or to somebody you love, followed by your name
      • Lots of love, Jenny
      • See you soon. Love, Steve.
      love is blind
      (saying)when you love somebody, you cannot see their faults
        make love (to somebody)
        to have sex
        • It was the first time they had made love.
        not for love or/nor money
        if you say you cannot do something for love nor money, you mean it is completely impossible to do it
        • We couldn't find a taxi for love nor money.
        there’s little/no love lost between A and B
        they do not like each other
        • There's no love lost between her and her in-laws.

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