English Dictionary

Definition of “live”

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1live1 (lɪvPronunciation for live1) 

Definitions

verb (mainly intr)

  1. to show the characteristics of life; be alive
  2. to remain alive or in existence
  3. to exist in a specified way  ⇒ to live poorly 
  4. in or at to reside or dwell  ⇒ to live in London 
  5. (often foll by on) to continue or last  ⇒ the pain still lives in her memory 
  6. (usually foll by by) to order one's life (according to a certain philosophy, religion, etc)
  7. on, upon, or by to support one's style of life; subsist  ⇒ to live by writing 
  8. (foll by with) to endure the effects (of a crime, mistake, etc)
  9. (foll by through) to experience and survive  ⇒ he lived through the war 
  10. (tr) to pass or spend (one's life, etc)
  11. to enjoy life to the full  ⇒ he knows how to live 
  12. (tr) to put into practice in one's daily life; express  ⇒ he lives religion every day 
  13. See live and let live
  14. See where one lives

See also

live down , live in , live out , live together , live up , live with

Word Origin

Old English libban, lifian;  related to Old High German libēn,  Old Norse lifa

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= dwell, board, settle, lodge, occupy, abide, inhabit, hang out, stay, reside, have as your home have your home in
= spend your life behave, conduct yourself pass your life
= lead, have, experience, pass, go through,
= exist, last, prevail, be, have being breathe, persist, be alive have life draw breath remain alive
= survive, remain alive feed yourself get along, make a living earn a living make ends meet, subsist, eke out a living support yourself maintain yourself
= thrive, be happy flourish, prosper, have fun enjoy life enjoy yourself luxuriate, live life to the full make the most of life

2live2 (laɪvPronunciation for live2) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. (prenominal) showing the characteristics of life
  2. (usually prenominal) of, relating to, or abounding in life  ⇒ the live weight of an animal 
  3. (usually prenominal) of current interest; controversial  ⇒ a live issue 
  4. actual  ⇒ a real live cowboy 
  5. informal full of life and energy
  6. (of a coal, ember, etc) glowing or burning
  7. (esp of a volcano) not extinct
  8. loaded or capable of exploding  ⇒ a live bomb 
  9. radio television transmitted or present at the time of performance, rather than being a recording  ⇒ a live show 
  10.  (of a record) 
    1. recorded in concert
    2. recorded in one studio take, without overdubs or splicing
  11. connected to a source of electric power  ⇒ a live circuit 
  12. (esp of a colour or tone) brilliant or splendid
  13. acoustically reverberant  ⇒ a live studio 
  14. sport (of a ball) in play
  15. (of rocks, ores, etc) not quarried or mined; native
  16. being in a state of motion or transmitting power; positively connected to a driving member
  17. printing 
    1. (of copy) not yet having been set into type
    2. (of type that has been set) still in use

adverb

  1. during, at, or in the form of a live performance  ⇒ the show went out live 

Word Origin

C16: from on livealive

Quotations

  • "Live and learn"
  • "Live and let live"
  • "They that live longest see most"
  • "He lives long who lives well"

Translations

  • British English: live Pronunciation for live Live animals or plants are alive, rather than being dead or artificial....a protest against the company's tests on live animals.laɪv ADJECTIVE ...a protest against the company's tests on live animals.
  • Spanish: vivo Pronunciation for vivo adj viva
  • French: vivant Pronunciation for vivant adj
  • German: lebend Pronunciation for lebend adj
  • Chinese: 活的Pronunciation for 活的 adj
  • Arabic: حَيٌّPronunciation for حَيٌّ adj
  • Portuguese: vivoPronunciation for vivo adj viva
  • Russian: живойPronunciation for живой adj живая
  • Croatian: živahanPronunciation for živahan adj živahna
  • Czech: živýPronunciation for živý adj
  • Danish: levendePronunciation for levende adj
  • Dutch: livePronunciation for live adj
  • Finnish: eläväPronunciation for elävä adj
  • Greek: ζωντανόςPronunciation for ζωντανός adj ζωντανή
  • Italian: vivoPronunciation for vivo adj viva
  • Japanese: 生きているPronunciation for 生きている no_posp
  • Korean: 살아 있는Pronunciation for 살아 있는 adj
  • Norwegian: levendePronunciation for levende adj
  • Polish: żywyPronunciation for żywy adj żywa
  • Brazilian Portuguese: vivoPronunciation for vivo adj viva
  • European Spanish: vivo Pronunciation for vivo adj viva
  • Swedish: levandePronunciation for levande adj
  • Thai: มีชีวิตชีวาPronunciation for มีชีวิตชีวา adj
  • Turkish: canlıPronunciation for canlı adj
  • Vietnamese: trực tiếpPronunciation for trực tiếp adj
  • British English: live Pronunciation for live You live in the place where your home is.Where do you live?lɪv VERB Where do you live?
  • Spanish: vivir Pronunciation for vivir v
  • French: vivre Pronunciation for vivre v
  • German: leben Pronunciation for leben v
  • Chinese: 生活Pronunciation for 生活 v
  • Arabic: يَعِيشُPronunciation for يَعِيشُ vi
  • Portuguese: viverPronunciation for viver v
  • Russian: житьPronunciation for жить v
  • Croatian: živjetiPronunciation for živjeti v
  • Czech: žítPronunciation for žít v
  • Danish: levePronunciation for leve v
  • Dutch: levenPronunciation for leven v
  • Finnish: elääPronunciation for elää v
  • Greek: ζωPronunciation for ζω v
  • Italian: viverePronunciation for vivere v
  • Japanese: 生きるPronunciation for 生きる v
  • Korean: 살다Pronunciation for 살다 v
  • Norwegian: levePronunciation for leve v
  • Polish: przeżyćPronunciation for przeżyć v żyć
  • Brazilian Portuguese: viverPronunciation for viver v
  • European Spanish: vivir Pronunciation for vivir v
  • Swedish: levaPronunciation for leva v
  • Thai: ดำเนินชีวิตPronunciation for ดำเนินชีวิต v
  • Turkish: yaşamakPronunciation for yaşamak v
  • Vietnamese: sốngPronunciation for sống v
  • British English: live To live means to be alive.We all need water to live.lɪv VERB We all need water to live.
  • French: vivre vi
  • Arabic: يَعِيشُ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: viver vi

Usage examples

  • Naturally, my god would like to see that she does not live long enough to fulfil her destiny.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • Tavistock is a lovely place to live , in a beautiful area where there is an enormous amount to see and do.
    Country Life (2004)
  • He and his wife Linda and two children live in the Baltimore neighbourhood of Mount Washington.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • But not everyone who is seeking to rent property wants to live alone in the city.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Even now many people live in houses containing old, lead-based paint.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'L'

Related Terms

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