|
| life [ līf ] (plural lives [ līvz ]) |
noun |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. existence in physical world: the quality that makes living animals and plants different from dead organisms and inorganic matter. Its functions include the ability to take in food, adapt to the environment, grow, and reproduce.
|
2. living individual: a living being, especially a person, often used when referring to the number of people killed in an accident or a war
(
usually used in the plural
)
  Two hundred lives were lost in the crash.
|
3. living things considered together: a group of living things, usually of a particular kind
She was an expert on plant life in the Amazon.
|
4. whole time somebody is alive: the entire period during which somebody is, has been, or will yet be alive
All my life I've wanted to learn to fly.
|
5. time when something functions: the period during which something continues to function
Cheap batteries usually have short lives.
|
6. part of somebody's life: a particular aspect of somebody's life
social life
|
7. human activity: human existence or activity in general
real life
|
8. way in which somebody lives: the character or conditions of somebody's existence
Most people in this city lead hard lives.
|
9. characteristic way of living: a way of living that is characteristic of a particular place or group
country life
|
10. vitality: animation and vitality, or something that produces animation or vitality
We liked him because he was so full of life.
|
11. chance in game playing: in various games, a chance to be unsuccessful without being put out of a game
(
usually plural
)
|
12. life imprisonment: a sentence of life imprisonment
(
informal
)
|
13. biography: an account of somebody's life, usually in writing, but sometimes in other media such as film, video, or radio
He was the author of "The Life of Aristotle."
|
14. artist's subject: something real used as a subject by an artist, especially human models, who are often nude
She always insisted on painting from life.
|
| [ Old English līf< Germanic] |
|
bring somebody or something to life
1. to make somebody or something live
2. to make somebody or something more lively or excited
|
come to life to begin to be interesting, lively, or exciting
The streets really come to life at night.
|
get a life to do something to improve your situation or change your lifestyle for the better (slang)
|
take somebody's or your life to kill somebody or yourself.
See Synonyms at kill1
|
|
