in love

love  (lv)

n.

1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

2. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.

3.

a. Sexual passion.

b. Sexual intercourse.

c. A love affair.

4. An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.

5. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.

6. An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.

7.

a. A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.

b. The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love.

8. Love Mythology Eros or Cupid.

9. often Love Christianity Charity.

10. Sports A zero score in tennis.

v. loved, lov·ing, loves

v.tr.

1. To have a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward (a person): We love our parents. I love my friends.

2. To have a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward (a person).

3. To have an intense emotional attachment to: loves his house.

4.

a. To embrace or caress.

b. To have sexual intercourse with.

5. To like or desire enthusiastically: loves swimming.

6. Theology To have charity for.

7. To thrive on; need: The cactus loves hot, dry air.

v.intr.

To experience deep affection or intense desire for another.

Idioms:

for love

Out of compassion; with no thought for a reward: She volunteers at the hospital for love.

for love or money

Under any circumstances. Usually used in negative sentences: I would not do that for love or money.

for the love of

For the sake of; in consideration for: did it all for the love of praise.

in love

1. Deeply or passionately enamored: a young couple in love.

2. Highly or immoderately fond: in love with Japanese painting; in love with the sound of her own voice.

no love lost

No affection; animosity: There's no love lost between them.

---

[Middle English, from Old English lufu; see leubh- in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: love, affection, devotion, fondness, infatuation
These nouns denote feelings of warm personal attachment or strong attraction to another person. Love is the most intense: marrying for love.
Affection is a less ardent and more unvarying feeling of tender regard: parental affection.
Devotion is earnest, affectionate dedication and implies selflessness: teachers admired for their devotion to children.
Fondness is strong liking or affection: a fondness for small animals.
Infatuation is foolish or extravagant attraction, often of short duration: lovers blinded to their differences by their mutual infatuation.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

in love - marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness; "gaga over the rock group's new album"; "he was infatuated with her" enamored, infatuated, potty, soft on, taken with, smitten loving - feeling or showing love and affection; "loving parents"; "loving glances"