1. Have a great affection or liking for
   "I love French food"; "She loves her boss and works hard for him"
    
2. Be enamoured or in love with
   "She loves her husband deeply"
    
3. Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
   "I love cooking";
   - enjoy, bask, relish, savor [US], savour [Brit, Cdn]
    
4. Have sexual intercourse
   "they loved in the back of the car"; "they made love in the back of the car";
   - sleep together, make love, sleep with, have sex, know [archaic], do it [informal], be intimate, have intercourse, lie with [archaic], bed [informal], get it on [informal]

1. (Maori) a strong positive emotion of love, compassion, and goodwill
   "his love for his work"; "children need a lot of love";
   - aroha [NZ]
    
2. A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction
   "she was his first love"; "their love left them indifferent to their surroundings";
   - sexual love, erotic love
    
3. Any object of warm affection or devotion
   "the theatre was her first love";
   - passion
    
4. Someone who is loved (used as a term of endearment)
   "My love, I've missed you so much";
   - beloved, dear, dearest, honey [informal], baby [informal], darling, deary [informal], dearie [Brit, informal], sweetheart, sweetie [informal], sugar [N. Amer, informal], duck [Brit, informal], hon [informal]
    
5. Sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people
   "he hadn't had any love in months"; "he has a very complicated love life"; "his sexual love disgusted her"; "his making love disgusted her";
   - sexual love, lovemaking, making love, love life
    
6. A score of zero in tennis or squash
   "it was 40 love"
    
7. [Brit, informal] A friendly form of address
   "Can I get you anything else, love?";
   - dearie [Brit, informal], luv [Brit, informal], lovey [Brit, informal], ducky [Brit, informal], pet [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: loved, loving, loves

Type of: concupiscence, copulate, couple, emotion, eros, experience, feel, like, lover, mate, object, pair, physical attraction, score, sex, sex activity, sexual activity, sexual desire, sexual practice

Antonym: detest, hate

Encyclopedia: Love, Peace & Happiness