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love

love

772 1.0
A word people use to address someone they care about, like dear
  • noun
  • /lʌv/
  • Informal
translation icon : cariño
  • Hello, my love, how was your day?
  • a love interest
  • lost love
  • a new love

If Blue was to kiss her true love, he would die.

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Examples

Synonyms

honey
vslove
  • Informal
1.0

A word you use to show love or affection to someone

is slightly more formal or literary than the friendly term
baby
vslove
  • Informal
1.0

A word used to show love for a romantic partner

is a general affectionate address used across relationships
darling
vslove
  • Informal
1.0

A person you love very much

is the everyday affectionate word used in casual address
sweetheart
vslove
  • Informal
1.0

A person you love in a romantic way

is a general affectionate address not limited to romantic partners
sweetie
vslove
  • Informal
558 2.8

A person you love or care for very much

is the standard affectionate address without the casual tone
loved one
vslove
310 1.3

A person you care about deeply, like a family member or close friend

is mainly used to address someone directly as an affectionate name
dearest
vslove
  • Informal
162 2.2

A person you love very much

is the common affectionate form without extra intensity
dear
vslove
  • Informal
29 1.0

A person you love or like very much

is similar but often feels more personal or intimate when spoken
beloved
vslove
19 3.4

A person who is very much loved

is more informal and used directly in everyday speech
dearie
vslove
  • Informal
6 8.1

A word used to show love or kindness to someone

is the plain everyday affectionate word used most often
lovey
vslove
  • Informal
5 7.5

A gentle name used for someone you love

is the neutral affectionate form used in many situations
deary
vslove
  • UK
2 8.4

A person you love or care about, often called this name to show love

is the more common modern affectionate form
amore
vslove
  • Informal
1 9.1

A person you love as a romantic partner

is the plain English affectionate form familiar to most speakers
ladylove
vslove
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A woman who is a man's sweetheart

is gender neutral and used for any loved person
luv
vslove
  • Texting
1 9.3

An informal way to write or say that you care about someone, often in messages

is the full, standard affectionate expression used in speech
truelove
vslove
  • Literature
5.8

A person someone cares for deeply and wants to be with

is used more broadly for any dear person, not only romantic ones

Idioms

1.9

Feeling strong romantic feelings for someone

love ya
  • Texting
720 8.4

Tell someone you care about them in a friendly way

A strong feeling for someone the first time you see them

for the love of
  • Informal
13 7.5

To show strong feeling, often as an urgent plea

no love lost
  • Informal
3 8.3

A strong dislike between two people or groups

The person someone loves most and wants to spend their life with

Words people say when they are very annoyed or want something done quickly

1 9.9

No matter how hard you try, you cannot remember or understand it

To look and act in a sexy way for a camera

Become very confident about your looks and ready for love

6.6

You cannot do it even for a large reward

9.7

A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger

Accept something as it is even if you do not like it

People can love anyone no matter their background

8.2

To say goodbye in a warm, loving way when you must leave

7.0

To give someone so much care and affection that they feel overwhelmed

Compounds

98 4.4

Sex between people to show love or affection

88 1.9

A story, like a book or film, about love between the main characters

56 2.0

A written message that tells someone you have romantic feelings for them

love life
  • NSFW
54 3.4

A person's romantic relationships and sexual activity

47 1.4

A song that expresses romantic feelings for someone

46 3.6

A secret romantic or sexual relationship between two people

43 3.2

The first person you have strong romantic feelings for

31 4.5

A strict way of caring that helps someone improve

The person someone cares for most and wants to be with

labor of love
  • Informal
13 3.9

Work people do for pleasure not for money

12 4.2

A small private place where two people in love spend romantic time together

11 6.5

A child born to parents who are not married to each other

10 2.7

A small sofa for two people to sit together

love-potion
  • Literature
9 8.8

A drink people believe makes someone want to be with the person who gives it to them

free love
  • NSFW
7 6.5

Sex between people who are not married, often part of a belief in sexual freedom

love handle
  • Informal
7 3.9

A small roll of fat at the sides of the waist

puppy love
  • Informal
7 3.7

A strong short romantic feeling often felt by young people

A strong enjoyment of playing a sport not for money or fame

Words or actions that show romantic feelings

A kind, caring feeling toward other people as if they were your brothers

love machine
  • Informal
3 8.1

A person who easily attracts romantic interest, often said as a joke

love-in
  • Archaic
3 8.6

A gathering where people celebrate love, peace, and kindness

3 4.3

Caring for your own happiness and well-being

2 3.3

A marriage or romantic relationship where both people love each other

love line
  • Jargon
1 8.7

A line on the palm that people say shows a person's emotions or romantic life

love bite
  • NSFW
1 7.4

A temporary mark on the skin made by kissing or sucking

calf love
  • Archaic
1 7.5

A short innocent romantic feeling that teenagers often have

An event that honors love and a romantic relationship, like a wedding

love and loss
  • Literature
1 4.4

Strong happy feelings for someone and the sadness that comes when they leave

love muscle
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A slang name for an upper arm or chest muscle men show off, sometimes meaning a man's penis

A nickname for the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, United States

courtly love
  • Literature
1 9.9

A medieval style of romance where a knight secretly praised a lady he could not marry

1 4.4

A child's deep love for their parents

love apple
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old name for a tomato

1 7.2

A meal people often share in a church to bring them closer

love machine
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A device used for sexual pleasure

1 9.9

A common European wildflower with purple, yellow and white flowers that garden pansies come from

1 8.0

A small object given to show love for someone

self-love
  • Archaic
1 7.0

Having too much pride in your own looks or abilities

1 4.9

Strong romantic and physical attraction between two people that often includes intimate contact

cupboard love
  • Archaic
8.3

Love or attention shown to get a reward rather than real feeling

6.8

A strong feeling of sexual desire and attraction for another person

African love grass
  • South African
7.4

A grass from South Africa that grows in clumps and is often planted to stop soil erosion

agape love
  • Formal
6.5

Love for other people that is selfless and not sexual

lad's love
  • Archaic
9.9

A small plant with bitter, pleasant-smelling leaves used for tea and scent

9.9

A woman who often changes her lovers

9.9

A woman who falls in love easily and then leaves people

love grass
  • Specialized
9.0

A grass grown to feed animals and to stop soil from washing away

5.4

A decorative loop of rope or ribbon used as a sign of love

love button
  • Texting
4.5

A heart icon you tap to show you like or support a post

7.8

A scented cream or oil used to soften the skin and make people feel romantic

Words in a song or poem that express love

9.3

A small tree with bright purplish-red flowers that grow on its stems before leaves appear

9.9

A vine without leaves that wraps around and harms plants like clover, with small white bell-shaped flowers on orange-yellow stems

9.9

A quality or action that makes people feel cared for and happy

A garden flower with fine feathery leaves and small blue or white flowers

A tropical climbing flower with fine leaf parts and a strong smell when crushed

A small plant with white or pink flowers that blooms in late winter

love-philter
  • Archaic
9.9

A drink that makes a person fall in love with the giver

A tall plant from warm countries with long hanging red flowers whose leaves are eaten and seeds used like grain

8.4

A padlock attached to a place like a bridge by a couple to show their lasting love

A small metal lock shaped like a heart that couples attach to bridges

A way of loving in a relationship that grows and changes over time

Persian love tale
  • Literature
9.9

A traditional Persian story about famous lovers and deep longing

A romantic style that uses Persian music, poetry and colours

A small amount of care that makes something special

9.9

A romantic relationship shared by three partners

A grass that lives for many years from South Africa and grows in dense clumps to stop soil erosion

How Affectionate

beloved
19 3.4
love
  • Informal
772 1.0
darling
  • Informal
1.0
dear
  • Informal
29 1.0
mate
  • UK
213 5.3

Surface Forms

love singular
loves plural

Etymology

Love used as a name for someone dear comes from the same old word lufu meaning 'dear' or 'affection', so calling someone 'love' is like calling them 'my dear' or a very special person.