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likes - 4 dictionary results

like

1  [lahyk] adjective, (Poetic) lik⋅er, lik⋅est, preposition, adverb, conjunction, noun, verb, liked, lik⋅ing, interjection
Use likes in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.: I cannot remember a like instance.
2. corresponding or agreeing in general or in some noticeable respect; similar; analogous: drawing, painting, and like arts.
3. bearing resemblance.
4. Dialect. likely: 'Tis like that he's gone mad.
5. Dialect. about: The poor chap seemed like to run away.
–preposition
6. in like manner with; similarly to; in the manner characteristic of: He works like a beaver.
7. resembling (someone or something): He is just like his father. Your necklace is just like mine.
8. characteristic of: It would be like him to forget our appointment.
9. as if there is promise of; indicative of: It looks like rain.
10. as if someone or something gives promise of being: She looks like a good prospect for the job.
11. disposed or inclined to (usually prec. by feel): to feel like going to bed.
12. similar or comparable to: There is nothing like a cold drink of water when one is thirsty. What was he like?
13. (used correlatively to indicate similarity through relationship): like father, like son.
14. (used to establish an intensifying, often facetious, comparison): sleeping like a log.
15. as; such as: There are numerous hobbies you might enjoy, like photography or painting.
–adverb
16. nearly; closely; approximately: The house is more like 40 than 20 years old.
17. Informal. likely or probably: Like enough he'll come with us. Like as not her leg is broken.
18. Nonstandard.
a. as it were; in a way; somehow.
b. to a degree; more or less: standing against the wall, looking very tough like.
–conjunction
19. in the same way as; just as; as: It happened like you might expect it would.
20. as if: He acted like he was afraid. The car runs like new.
21. Informal. (used esp. after forms of be to introduce reported speech or thought): She's like, "I don't believe it," and I'm like, "No, it's true!"
–noun
22. a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually prec. by a possessive adjective or the): No one has seen his like in a long time. Like attracts like.
23. kind; sort; type; ilk (usually prec. by a possessive adjective): I despise moochers and their like.
24. the like, something of a similar nature: They grow oranges, lemons, and the like.
–interjection
25. Informal. (used esp. in speech, often nonvolitionally or habitually, to preface a sentence, to fill a pause, to express uncertainty, or to intensify or neutralize a following adjective): Like, why didn't you write to me? The music was, like, really great, you know?
—Idioms
26. like anything, Informal. very much; extremely; with great intensity: He wanted like anything to win.
27. like to or liked to, South Midland and Southern U.S. was on the verge of or came close to (doing something): The poor kid like to froze.
28. something like, Informal. something approaching or approximating: It looked something like this.
29. the like or likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of: I've never seen the like of it anywhere.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME lic, lik < ON līkr; r. OE gelīc, c. D gelijk, G gleich, ON glīkr, Goth galeiks like, lit., of the same body or form. See y-, lich

Related forms:
liker, noun

Usage note:
Like1 as a conjunction meaning “as, in the same way as” (Many shoppers study the food ads like brokers study market reports) or “as if” (It looks like it will rain) has been used for nearly 500 years and by many distinguished literary and intellectual figures. Since the mid-19th century there have been objections, often vehement, to these uses. Nevertheless, such uses are almost universal today in all but the most formal speech and writing. In extremely careful speech and in much formal writing, as, as if, and as though are more commonly used than like: The commanding general accepted full responsibility for the incident, as any professional soldier would. Many of the Greenwich Village bohemians lived as if (or as though) there were no tomorrow.
The strong strictures against the use of like as a conjunction have resulted in the occasional hypercorrect use of as as a preposition where like is idiomatic: She looks as a sympathetic person.
Like meaning “as if” is also standard in informal speech and writing with a small number of adjectives: The crew worked like crazy (or like mad) to finish the job on time. See also as.

like

2  [lahyk] verb, liked, lik⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to take pleasure in; find agreeable or congenial: We all liked the concert.
2. to regard with favor; have a kindly or friendly feeling for (a person, group, etc.); find attractive: His parents like me and I like them.
3. to wish or prefer: You can do exactly as you like while you are a guest here.
–verb (used without object)
4. to feel inclined; wish: We'll have lunch whenever you like.
5. Archaic. to suit the tastes or wishes; please.
–noun
6. Usually, likes. the things a person likes: a long list of likes and dislikes.
—Idiom
7. would like. would (def. 10).
Origin:
bef. 900; ME liken, OE līcian; c. D lijken, ON līka; see like 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To likes
like 1   (līk)   
v.   liked, lik·ing, likes

v.   tr.
  1. To find pleasant or attractive; enjoy.
  2. To want to have: would like some coffee.
  3. To feel about; regard: How do you like her nerve!
  4. Archaic To be pleasing to.
v.   intr.
  1. To have an inclination or a preference: If you like, we can meet you there.
  2. Scots To be pleased.
n.  Something that is liked; a preference: made a list of his likes and dislikes.

[Middle English liken, from Old English līcian, to please; see līk- in Indo-European roots.]
like 2   (līk)   
prep.  
  1. Possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to.
    1. In the typical manner of: It's not like you to take offense.
    2. In the same way as: lived like royalty.
  3. Inclined or disposed to: felt like running away.
  4. As if the probability exists for: looks like a bad year for farmers.
  5. Such as; for example: saved things like old newspapers and pieces of string.
adj.  
  1. Possessing the same or almost the same characteristics; similar: on this and like occasions.
  2. Alike: They are as like as two siblings.
  3. Having equivalent value or quality. Usually used in negative sentences: There's nothing like a good night's sleep.
adv.  
  1. In the manner of being; as if. Used as an intensifier of action: worked like hell; ran like crazy.
  2. Informal Probably; likely: Like as not she'll change her mind.
  3. Nearly; approximately: The price is more like 1,000 dollars.
  4. Nonstandard Used to provide emphasis or a pause: Like let's get going.
n.  
  1. One similar to or like another. Used with the: was subject to coughs, asthma, and the like.
  2. Informal An equivalent or similar person or thing; an equal or match. Often used in the plural: I've never seen the likes of this before. We'll never see his like again.
conj.   Usage Problem
  1. In the same way that; as: To dance like she does requires great discipline.
  2. As if: It looks like we'll finish on time.

[Middle English, from like, similar (from Old English gelīc and Old Norse līkr) and from like, similarly (from Old English gelīce, from gelīc, similar); see līk- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Writers since Chaucer's time have used like as a conjunction, but 19th-century and 20th-century critics have been so vehement in their condemnations of this usage that a writer who uses the construction in formal style risks being accused of illiteracy or worse. Prudence requires The dogs howled as (not like) we expected them to. Like is more acceptably used as a conjunction in informal style with verbs such as feel, look, seem, sound, and taste, as in It looks like we are in for a rough winter. But here too as if is to be preferred in formal writing. There can be no objection to the use of like as a conjunction when the following verb is not expressed, as in He took to politics like a duck to water. See Usage Notes at as1, together.

Our Living Language  : Along with be all and go, the construction combining be and like has become a common way of introducing quotations in informal conversation, especially among younger people: "So I'm like, 'Let's get out of here!'" As with go, this use of like can also announce a brief imitation of another person's behavior, often elaborated with facial expressions and gestures. It can also summarize a past attitude or reaction (instead of presenting direct speech). If a woman says "I'm like, 'Get lost buddy!'" she may or may not have used those actual words to tell the offending man off. In fact, she may not have said anything to him but instead may be summarizing her attitude at the time by stating what she might have said, had she chosen to speak. See Notes at all, go1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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