noun, plural lives [lahyvz]
, adjective | 1. | the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. |
| 2. | the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, esp. metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment. |
| 3. | the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one. |
| 4. | a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life. |
| 5. | the general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that. |
| 6. | any specified period of animate existence: a man in middle life. |
| 7. | the period of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something inanimate, as a machine, lease, or play: The life of the car may be ten years. |
| 8. | a living being: Several lives were lost. |
| 9. | living things collectively: the hope of discovering life on other planets; insect life. |
| 10. | a particular aspect of existence: He enjoys an active physical life. |
| 11. | the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that constitute a person's existence: His business has been his entire life. |
| 12. | a biography: a newly published life of Willa Cather. |
| 13. | animation; liveliness; spirit: a speech full of life. |
| 14. | resilience; elasticity. |
| 15. | the force that makes or keeps something alive; the vivifying or quickening principle: The life of the treaty has been an increase of mutual understanding and respect. |
| 16. | a mode or manner of existence, as in the world of affairs or society: So far her business life has not overlapped her social life. |
| 17. | the period or extent of authority, popularity, approval, etc.: the life of the committee; the life of a bestseller. |
| 18. | a prison sentence covering the remaining portion of the offender's animate existence: The judge gave him life. |
| 19. | anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life: She was his life. |
| 20. | a person or thing that enlivens: the life of the party. |
| 21. | effervescence or sparkle, as of wines. |
| 22. | pungency or strong, sharp flavor, as of substances when fresh or in good condition. |
| 23. | nature or any of the forms of nature as the model or subject of a work of art: drawn from life. |
| 24. | Baseball. another opportunity given to a batter to bat because of a misplay by a fielder. |
| 25. | (in English pool) one of a limited number of shots allowed a player: Each pool player has three lives at the beginning of the game. |
| 26. | for or lasting a lifetime; lifelong: a life membership in a club; life imprisonment. |
| 27. | of or pertaining to animate existence: the life force; life functions. |
| 28. | working from nature or using a living model: a life drawing; a life class. |
| 29. | as large as life, actually; indeed: There he stood, as large as life. Also, as big as life. |
| 30. | come to life,
|
| 31. | for dear life, with desperate effort, energy, or speed: We ran for dear life, with the dogs at our heels. Also, for one's life. |
| 32. | for the life of one, as hard as one tries; even with the utmost effort: He can't understand it for the life of him. |
| 33. | get a life, to improve the quality of one's social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone's behavior. |
| 34. | not on your life, Informal. absolutely not; under no circumstances; by no means: Will I stand for such a thing? Not on your life! |
| 35. | take one's life in one's hands, to risk death knowingly: We were warned that we were taking our lives in our hands by going through that swampy area. |
| 36. | to the life, in perfect imitation; exactly: The portrait characterized him to the life. |
verb, lived [livd]
, liv⋅ing.| 1. | to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions: all things that live. |
| 2. | to continue to have life; remain alive: to live to a ripe old age. |
| 3. | to continue in existence, operation, memory, etc.; last: a book that lives in my memory. |
| 4. | to maintain or support one's existence; provide for oneself: to live on one's income. |
| 5. | to feed or subsist (usually fol. by on or upon): to live on rice and bananas. |
| 6. | to dwell or reside (usually fol. by in, at, etc.): to live in a cottage. |
| 7. | to pass life in a specified manner: They lived happily ever after. |
| 8. | to direct or regulate one's life: to live by the golden rule. |
| 9. | to experience or enjoy life to the full: At 40 she was just beginning to live. |
| 10. | to cohabit (usually fol. by with). |
| 11. | to escape destruction or remain afloat, as a ship or aircraft. |
| 12. | to pass (life): to live a life of ease. |
| 13. | to practice, represent, or exhibit in one's life: to live one's philosophy. |
| 14. | live down, to live so as to allow (a mistake, disgrace, etc.) to be forgotten or forgiven: She'll never live that crucial moment of failure down. |
| 15. | live in or out, to reside at or away from the place of one's employment, esp. as a domestic servant: Their butler lives in, but the maids live out. |
| 16. | live up to, to live in accordance with (expectations or an ideal or standard); measure up to: He never lived up to his father's vision of him. |
| 17. | live high off or on the hog. hog (def. 16). |
| 18. | live it up, Informal. to live in an extravagant or wild manner; pursue pleasure: He started living it up after he got out of the army. |
| 19. | live well, to live comfortably: They're not wealthy but they live well. |

lives (līvz) n. Plural of life. |
live
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"According to the Dutch Prouerbe ... Leuen ende laetan leuen, To liue and to let others liue." [Malynes, 1622]To live it up "live gaily and extravagantly" is from 1951. To live up to "act in accordance with" is from 1694. To live (something) down "outwear (some slander or embarrassment)" is from 1842. To live with "cohabit as husband and wife" is attested from 1749; sense of "to put up with" is attested from 1937. Lived-in "inhabited, occupied" is first recorded 1873. Live-in (adj.) first attested, 1955. Liveable "suitable for living in" is from 1814, first attested in "Mansfield Park." Expression live and learn is attested from c.1620.
life (līf)
n. pl. lives (līvz)
The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism.
The characteristic state or condition of a living organism.
Living organisms considered as a group.
A living being, especially a person.
live (līv)
adj.
Having life; alive.
Capable of replicating in a host's cells.
Containing living microorganisms or active virus, as a vaccine.