- 1[uncountable] a strong feeling of deep affection for someone or something, especially a member of your family or a friend a mother's love for her children love of your country He seems incapable of love. romantic
- 2[uncountable] a strong feeling of affection for someone that you are sexually attracted to a love song/story We're in love! She was in love with him. They fell in love with each other. It was love at first sight (= they were attracted to each other the first time they met). They're madly in love. Their love grew with the years. Topic CollocationsMarriage and Divorceromance
- fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly)in love (with somebody)
- be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
- be/find true love/the love of your life
- suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
- have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for somebody/something
- meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have/go on a (blind)date
- be going out with/dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
- move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend
- get/be engaged/married/divorced
- arrange/plan a wedding
- have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
- have/enter into an arranged marriage
- call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
- invite somebody to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
- conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
- exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
- congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
- be/go on your honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
- celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
- be unfaithful to/ (informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have an affair (with somebody)
- break off/end an engagement/a relationship
- break up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend
- separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife
- annul/dissolve a marriage
- file for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
- get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
- pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband)
enjoyment - 3[uncountable, singular] the strong feeling of enjoyment that something gives you a love of learning He's in love with his work. I fell in love with the house. someone or something you like
- 4[countable] 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. in tennis
- 5[uncountable] a score of zero (points or games) 40–love! She won the first set six–love/six games to love. Idioms
affection
in some situations any type of behavior is acceptable to get what you want
without receiving payment or any other reward They're all volunteers, working for the love of it.
used when you are expressing anger and the fact that you are impatient For the love of God, tell me what he said!
used to send good wishes to someone Give my love to Mary when you see her. Bob sends his love.
loving someone very much He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss.
a hard task that you do because you want to, not because it is necessary Writing the book was a labor of love.
used at the end of a letter to a friend or to someone you love, followed by your name Lots of love, Jenny
when you love someone, you cannot see their faults
to have sex
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.
they do not like each other There's no love lost between her and her in-laws.
Check pronunciation: love