love

n.

1. Passionate and tender devotion

   affection, attachment, devotion, infatuation, passion, tenderness, tender passion, fondness, adoration, yearning, flame, rapture, enchantment, ardor, emotion, sentiment, amorousness, free love, enjoyment, cherishing, devotedness, worship, desire, fancy, weakness, amativeness, Eros, Cupid, Amor, Venus, Aphrodite, Kama, crush*, puppy love*, calf love*; see also affection 1, desire 3.

   Antonyms hate*, aversion*, antipathy. *

2. Affection based on esteem

   respect, regard, appreciation; see admiration.

3. A lively and enduring interest

   relish, predilection, penchant, passion; see affection 1, inclination 1, zest 1.

4. A beloved

   dear one, loved one, cherished one; see lover 1.

love implies intense fondness or deep devotion and may apply to various relationships or objects sexual love, brotherly love, love of one's work; affection suggests warm, tender feelings, usually not as powerful or deep as those implied by lovehe has no affection for children; attachment implies connection by ties of affection, attraction, devotion, etc. and may be felt for inanimate things as well as for people an attachment to an old hat; infatuation implies a foolish or unreasoning passion or affection, often a transient one an elderly man's infatuation for a young girl

fall in love (with)

for love

for the love of

in love

make love

not for love or money

with no love lost between

love

v.

1. To be passionately devoted

   adore, be in love with, care for, delight in, hold dear, choose, fancy, venerate, be enchanted by, be passionately attached to, have affection for, be enamored of, dote on, glorify, exalt, idolize, prize, put on a pedestal, hold in affection, deify, be fascinated by, hold high, canonize, think the world of, treasure, prefer, yearn for, esteem, be captivated by, be enraptured by, lose one's heart to, be fond of, admire, long for, be oneself with, thrive with, flip over*, fall for*, be nuts about*, be crazy about*, go for*, have it bad*, cotton to*; see also cherish 1, like 2.

   Antonyms hate*, detest*, loathe. *

2. To express love by caresses

   cherish, fondle, make love, make much of, feast one's eyes on, embrace, cling to, clasp, hug, take into one's arms, hold, pet, soothe, stroke, encircle with one's arms, press to the heart, draw close, remain near to, bring to one's side, look tenderly at, look deeply into one's eyes, chase after*, make a play for*, shine up to*, neck*, make out*, love up*, make it*; see also caress, copulate, kiss.

   Antonyms exclude, spurn, refuse.

3. To possess a deep and abiding interest

   enjoy, delight in, relish; see admire 1, like 1.