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make love

 - 4 dictionary results

love

[luhv] noun, verb, loved, lov⋅ing.
–noun
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. (initial capital letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
–verb (used with object)
15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object)
21. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
23. for love,
a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one's work.
27. make love,
a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.
28. no love lost, dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.

Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE lufu, c. OFris luve, OHG luba, Goth lubō; (v.) ME lov(i)en, OE lufian; c. OFris luvia, OHG lubōn to love, L lubēre (later libēre) to be pleasing; akin to lief


1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.


1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To make love
make   (māk)   
v.   made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v.   tr.
  1. To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.

  2. To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.

  3. To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.

  4. To change from one form or function to another: make clay into bricks.

    1. To cause to be or become: made her position clear; a decision that made him happy.

    2. To cause to assume a specified function or role: made her treasurer; made Austin his home.

    3. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    4. To compel: made him quit.

    5. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    6. To compose: make verses.

    7. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    8. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    9. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    10. To engage in: make war.

    11. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    12. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    13. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    14. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    15. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    16. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    17. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    18. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    19. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    20. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    21. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    22. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    23. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    24. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    25. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    26. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    27. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    28. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    29. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    2. To compel: made him quit.

    3. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    4. To compose: make verses.

    5. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    6. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    7. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    8. To engage in: make war.

    9. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    10. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    11. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    12. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    13. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    14. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    15. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    16. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    17. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    18. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    19. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    20. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    21. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    22. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    23. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    24. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    25. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    26. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    27. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    2. To compose: make verses.

    3. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    4. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    5. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    6. To engage in: make war.

    7. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    8. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    9. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    10. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    11. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    12. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    13. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    14. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    15. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    16. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    17. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    18. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    19. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    20. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    21. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    22. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    23. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    24. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    25. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    2. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    3. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    4. To engage in: make war.

    5. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    6. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    7. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    8. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    9. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    10. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    11. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    12. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    13. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    14. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    15. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    16. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    17. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    18. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    19. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    20. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    21. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    22. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    23. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To engage in: make war.

    2. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    3. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    4. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    5. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    6. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    7. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    8. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    9. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    10. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    11. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    12. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    13. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    14. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    15. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    16. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    17. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    18. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    19. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    20. To amount to: makes no difference.

  5. To achieve, produce, or attain: made peace between the two sides; not making sense; didn't make the quota.

    1. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    2. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    3. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    4. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    5. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    6. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    7. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    8. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    9. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    10. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    11. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    12. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    13. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    14. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    15. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    16. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    17. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    18. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    2. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    3. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    4. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    5. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    6. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    7. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    8. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    9. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    10. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    11. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    12. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    13. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    14. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    15. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    2. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    3. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    4. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    5. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    6. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    7. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    8. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    9. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    10. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    11. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    12. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    13. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    2. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    3. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    4. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    5. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    6. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    7. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    8. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    9. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    10. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    11. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    2. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    3. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    4. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    5. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    6. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    7. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    8. To amount to: makes no difference.

  6. To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.

  7. To develop into: will make a fine doctor.

    1. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    2. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    3. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    4. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    5. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    6. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    2. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    3. To amount to: makes no difference.

  8. To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset

  9. To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.

  10. To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.

  11. To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.

  12. Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v.   intr.
  1. To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.

  2. To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.

  3. To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.

  4. To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.

  5. Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.

  6. To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.

  7. To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

n.  
  1. The act or process of making; manufacturing.

  2. The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.

  3. The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.

  4. A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.

  5. The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.

  6. Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?

  7. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  8. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

  9. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  10. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  11. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  12. To fill in (a form, for example).

  13. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  14. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  15. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  16. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

    3. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    4. To apply cosmetics.

    5. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    6. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  17. To redo; renovate.

  18. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

  19. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  20. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  21. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  22. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  23. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  24. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  25. To set in order: make up a room.

  26. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

  27. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  28. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for
  1. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  2. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

make offTo depart in haste; run away.
make out
  1. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  2. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  3. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  4. To fill in (a form, for example).

  5. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  6. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  7. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  8. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

make over
  1. To redo; renovate.

  2. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

make up
  1. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  2. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  3. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  4. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  5. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  6. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  7. To set in order: make up a room.

  8. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

make with Slang
  1. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  2. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.


Idiom(s):
make a clean breast ofTo confess fully.

Idiom(s):
make a faceTo distort the features of the face; grimace.

Idiom(s):
make a go ofTo achieve success in: have made a go of the business.

Idiom(s):
make away with
  1. To carry off; steal.

  2. To use up or consume.

  3. To kill or destroy.


Idiom(s):
make believeTo pretend.

Idiom(s):
make boldTo venture: I will not make so bold as to criticize such a scholar.

Idiom(s):
make bookTo accept bets on a race, game, or contest.

Idiom(s):
make doTo manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.

Idiom(s):
make ends meetTo manage so that one's means are sufficient for one's needs.

Idiom(s):
make eyesTo ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun ofTo mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good
  1. To carry out successfully: made good his escape.

  2. To fulfill: made good her promise.

  3. To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.

  4. To succeed: made good as a writer.


Idiom(s):
make hayTo turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.

Idiom(s):
make heads or tails ofTo understand: I couldn't make heads or tails of the report.

Idiom(s):
make historyTo do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history: The first space flight made history.

Idiom(s):
make it
  1. Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.

  2. Slang To have sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make light ofTo treat as unimportant: He made light of his illness.

Idiom(s):
make love
  1. To engage in amorous caressing.

  2. To engage in sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make much ofTo treat as of great importance.

Idiom(s):
make no bones aboutTo be forthright and candid about; acknowledge freely: They make no bones about their dislike for each other.

Idiom(s):
make off withTo snatch or steal: made off with the profits.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) dayTo give one great pleasure.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) peace withTo bring oneself to accept; reconcile oneself to.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) way
  1. To go forward; advance.

  2. To succeed, especially in making a living.


Idiom(s):
make sail
  1. To begin a voyage.

  2. To set sail.


Idiom(s):
make sense
  1. To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.

  2. To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.


Idiom(s):
make something ofTo start a fight or quarrel over.

Idiom(s):
make the gradeTo measure up to a given standard.

Idiom(s):
make the most ofTo use to the greatest advantage.

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang
  1. To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.

  2. To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.


Idiom(s):
make time
  1. To travel speedily.

  2. To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.

  3. Slang To make progress toward attracting someone: tried to make time with the new neighbor.


Idiom(s):
make tracks Slang To move or leave in a hurry.

Idiom(s):
make up (one's) mindTo decide between alternatives; come to a definite decision or opinion.

Idiom(s):
make waves Slang To cause a disturbance or controversy.

Idiom(s):
make way
  1. To give room for passage; move aside.

  2. To make progress.


Idiom(s):
on the make Slang
  1. Aggressively striving for financial or social improvement: a young executive on the make.

  2. Eagerly seeking a sexual partner.


[Middle English maken, from Old English macian; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
mak'a·ble, make'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

love  (v.)
O.E. lufian, from P.Gmc. *lubojanan, from root of love (n.). Love-hate (adj.) "ambivalent" is from 1937, originally a term in psychological jargon.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

make love

  1. Court, engage in amorous caressing, as in Romance was in the air, and she hoped he would make love to her. [Late 1500s]

  2. Have sexual intercourse, as in They'd been making love well before they married. This usage today is the more common of the two. [Mid-1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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