Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
love (noun)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, , or common interests - benevolence love for his old schoolmates
b) an assurance of affection - give her my love
2.
warm , enthusiasm, or devotion - attachment 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 of love - personification
6.
an episode - amorous love affair
7.
the sexual embrace - copulation
8.
a score of zero (as in tennis)
9.
capitalized Christian Science - god
transitive verb
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.
intransitive verb
to in - thrive the rose loves sunlight to feel affection or experience desire
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
love (noun)1.
a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone
SYNONIMS:
affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passionRELATED WORDS:
appetite, fancy, favor, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, taste; craving, crush, desire, infatuation, longing, lust, yearning; ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, fervor, zeal; appreciation, esteem, estimation, regard, respect; adoration, adulation, deification, idolatry, idolization, worship; allegiance, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastnessNEAR ANTONYMS:
allergy, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, disfavor, dislike, enmity, hostility; abhorrence, disgust, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; misanthropy2.
a person with whom one is in love
SYNONIMS:
beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, honey, love, squeeze, sweet, sweetie, sweetie pie, trueloveRELATED WORDS:
beau, boy, boyfriend, fellow, man, swain; gal, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, lass, mistress, tootsie; amour, lover, paramour; doll, duck(s) [], pet; date, escort, steady; admirer, gallant, suitor, wooer; groom, husband; bride, wife; significant other; fiancé, intended; crush, heartthrob3.
positive regard for something
SYNONIMS:
appetite, fancy, favor, fondness, like, love, love affair, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, useRELATED WORDS:
craving, desire, hankering, longing, thirst, yen; enthusiasm, gusto, interest, passion; bias, prejudice; bent, inclination, leaning, propensity, tendency; tooth; palate; weaknessNEAR ANTONYMS:
apathy, disinclination; indifference, unconcern4.
a brief romantic relationship
SYNONIMS:
amour, fling, love, love affair, romanceRELATED WORDS:
intrigue, liaison; dalliance, hanky-panky; attachment, infatuation; entanglement, flirtation; idyll ( idyl), passion; calf-love, puppy love1.
to hold dear
SYNONIMS:
appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, valueRELATED WORDS:
delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in); admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate; enshrine, memorialize; adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worshipNEAR ANTONYMS:
undervalue; abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub; bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off; abandon, forget, neglect2.
to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for
SYNONIMS:
adore, cherish, worshipRELATED WORDS:
adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize; revere, reverence, venerate; delight (in), dote (on)NEAR ANTONYMS:
antagonize, displease; disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike; disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off3.
to take pleasure in
SYNONIMS:
adore, delight (in), dig, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, love, rejoice (in), relish, revel (in), savor ( savour)RELATED WORDS:
admire, appreciate, cherish, revere, venerate, worship; prize, treasure, value; devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on); dote (on), idolize; cotton (to), favor, prefer; indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in)NEAR ANTONYMS:
abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe; condemn, despise, scorn4.
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
SYNONIMS:
caress, gentle, love, pat, pet, strokeRELATED WORDS:
bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon; feel up, paw; cradle, embrace, enfold, hug; bounce, dandle; knead, massage; baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil