Main Entry: 1love
Pronunciation: 'l&v
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lEof dear, Latin lubEre, libEre to please
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of love <give her my love>
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love> b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING -- often used as a term of endearment (2) British -- used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized, Christian Science : GOD
- at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
- in love : inspired by affection
Main Entry: 2love
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): loved; lov·ing
Date: before 12th century
transitive senses
1 : to hold dear : CHERISH
2 a : to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for b (1) : CARESS (2) : to fondle amorously (3) : to copulate with
3 : to like or desire actively : take pleasure in <loved to play the violin>
4 : to thrive in <the rose loves sunlight>
intransitive senses : to feel affection or experience desire
Main Entry: 1like
Pronunciation: 'lIk
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): liked; lik·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lIcian; akin to Old English gelIc alike
Date: before 12th century
transitive senses
1 chiefly dialect : to be suitable or agreeable to <I like onions but they don't like me>
2 a : to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : ENJOY <likes baseball> b : to feel toward : REGARD <how would you like a change>
3 : to wish to have : WANT <would like a drink>
4 : to do well in <this plant likes dry soil> <my car does not like cold weather>
intransitive senses
1 dialect : APPROVE
2 : to feel inclined : CHOOSE, PREFER <leave any time you like>
Main Entry: 2like
Function: noun
Date: 1851
1 : LIKING, PREFERENCE
2 : something that one likes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online