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book lover

book lover

3 1.4
A person who loves reading and collecting books
  • noun
  • /bʊk ˈlʌvər/
translation icon : amante de los libros
  • What do book lovers enjoy almost as much as reading a book?
  • comic book lovers
  • invite book lovers
  • old book lover

And yeah, it was just a book for book lovers is all I can say that it is.

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Examples

  • For book lovers, hardcovers (and snuggling with your children or grandchildren) will never be replaced.

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  • Is there any question more intoxicating to a book lover than, "So, what's your favourite book?"

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  • I had the greatest time talking about books with fellow writers and book lovers.

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  • This book has been read by book lovers, loved by book lovers, and passed on by book lovers.

    Blog text (20)
  • Besides that, hanging out for an hour with another book lover or two ain't half bad.

    Blog text (14)
  • I am an avid book lover and reader and average about $40 per month in book purchases.

    Blog text (24)
  • I've used Meetup to find other book lovers and also to join a few business groups.

    Blog text (17)
  • For a book lover, keeping books on the shelf is one of the pleasures of a semi-permanent life.

    Blog text (25)
  • The festival is free and open to book lovers of all ages.

  • If you are a book lover, the internet can supplement your regular shopping routine.

Synonyms

reader
vsbook lover
679 1.0

A person who enjoys looking at books and magazines for pleasure

is specific to loving and often collecting physical books
bookworm
vsbook lover
14 3.2

A person who loves reading and spends a lot of time with books

emphasizes love plus often collecting rather than long reading time
bibliophile
vsbook lover
2 8.8

A person who loves books and collects them, often rare or old

loves and often collects broadly without focus on rarity
book-reader
vsbook lover
1 1.0

A person who regularly reads books for pleasure

stresses loving and often collecting rather than mere regular reading
booklover
vsbook lover
1 2.5

A person who likes reading and collecting books

is the spaced form with identical meaning
bibliomaniac
vsbook lover
1 8.9

A person who loves books and reads or collects many of them

expresses love and collecting often but without extreme obsession
avid book-reader
vsbook lover
3.2

A person who reads many books for pleasure

focuses more on loving and often collecting rather than sheer quantity

How Avid

bibliophile
2 8.8
book lover
3 1.4
bookworm
14 3.2
reader
679 1.0

Surface Forms

book lover singular
book lovers plural

Morphology

book + lover

The meaning 'a person who loves and often collects books' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'book' (a published set of pages) with 'lover' (an enthusiastic admirer), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning. This compound pattern (noun + lover) is productive in English and mirrors constructions in many other languages, reinforcing its transparency.

Etymology

The compound book lover comes from the simple image of book and lover: a person who cares for and enjoys books. Imagine someone who fills shelves, visits bookstores, and always has a book in hand; that's why it means 'a person who loves and often collects books'.