Eros

E·ros

[eer-os, er-os]
noun, plural E·ro·tes [uh-roh-teez] , for 2, 3.
1.
the ancient Greek god of love, identified by the Romans with Cupid.
2.
a representation of this god.
3.
a winged figure of a child representing love or the power of love.
4.
(sometimes lowercase) physical love; sexual desire. Compare agape2 ( def 2 ).
5.
Astronomy. an asteroid that approaches to within 14 million miles (22½ million km) of the earth once every 44 years.
6.
Psychiatry.
a.
the libido.
b.
instincts for self-preservation collectively.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Eros
00:10
Eros is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
Eros (ˈɪərɒs, ˈɛrɒs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  Greek myth Roman counterpart: Cupid the god of love, son of Aphrodite
2.  Compare Thanatos Also called: life instinct (in Freudian theory) the group of instincts, esp sexual, that govern acts of self-preservation and that tend towards uninhibited enjoyment of life
 
[Greek: desire, sexual love]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

Eros
god of love, late 14c., from Gk., lit. "love," related to eran "to love," erasthai "to love, desire," of unknown origin. Freudian sense of "urge to self-preservation and sexual pleasure" is from 1922. Ancient Gk. distinguished four different kinds of love: eros "sexual love;" phileo "have affection for;"
agapao "have regard for, be contented with;" and stergo, used especially of the love of parents and children or a ruler and his subjects.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

Eros E·ros or e·ros (ěr'ŏs, ēr'-)
n.

  1. In psychoanalytic theory, the sum of all instincts for self-preservation.

  2. Sexual drive; libido.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
Eros [(air-os, eer-os)]

[Roman name Cupid]

A Greek and Roman god of love, often called the son of Aphrodite. He is better known by his Roman name.

Note: The word erotic comes from the Greek word eros, which is the term for sexual love itself, as well as the god's name.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
EROS
Earth Resources Observing Satellite
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT