noun

1. a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons
2. an expression of one's love or affection give Mary my love
3. a feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people
4. 1. strong liking for or interest in something a love of music
   2. the object of such liking
5. 1. a strong, usually passionate, affection of one person for another, based in part on sexual attraction
   2. the person who is the object of such an affection; sweetheart; lover
6. 1. sexual passion
   2. sexual intercourse

7. Etymology: < phr. play for love, i.e., play for nothing

   Tennis a score of zero
8. Theol.
   1. God's tender regard and concern for all human beings
   2. devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good, that all human beings have
9. Myth.
   1. Cupid, or Eros, as the god of love
   2. Rare Venus

Etymology: ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base *leubh-, to be fond of, desire > libido, lief, lust

transitive verb loved, loving lov′·ing

1. to feel love for
2. to show love for by embracing, fondling, kissing, etc.
3. to delight in; take pleasure in to love books
4. to gain benefit from a plant that loves shade

intransitive verb