life
/ˈlaɪ̯f/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.89 in modern English
Meaning
noun
The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
Uncountable
noun
The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
Uncountable
noun
The animating principle or force that keeps an inorganic thing or concept metaphorically alive (dynamic, relevant, etc) and makes it a “living document”, “living constitution”, etc.
Uncountable
noun
A living being; the fact of a particular individual being alive. (Chiefly when indicating individuals were lost (died) or saved.)
Countable
Example Sentences
- "I want my kids to live a good life. He gave up on life."
- "My bloodleſſe bodie waxeth chill and colde, And with my blood my life ſlides through my wound, My ſoule begins to take her flight to hell, And ſummones all my ſences to depart: […]"
- "The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience."
- "It's life, but not as we know it. She discovered plant life on the planet. The rover discovered signs of life on the alien world."
- "Many lives were lost during the war. Her quick thinking saved many dogs' lives."
- "After taking one life, Hurricane Gloria relented and swept northward, leaving wrecked buildings, piers, boats."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *leyp-, lyf, līf, *līb, *lībą