Meaning of 'life' (Webster Dictionary)
- The state of being which begins with generation, birth, or
germination, and ends with death; also, the time during which this
state continues; that state of an animal or plant in which all or any
of its organs are capable of performing all or any of their functions;
-- used of all animal and vegetable organisms.
- Of human beings: The union of the soul and body; also, the
duration of their union; sometimes, the deathless quality or existence
of the soul; as, man is a creature having an immortal life.
- The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of
animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of
their several and cooperative functions; the vital force, whether
regarded as physical or spiritual.
- Figuratively: The potential or animating principle, also, the
period of duration, of anything that is conceived of as resembling a
natural organism in structure or functions; as, the life of a state, a
machine, or a book; authority is the life of government.
- A certain way or manner of living with respect to conditions,
circumstances, character, conduct, occupation, etc.; hence, human
affairs; also, lives, considered collectively, as a distinct class or
type; as, low life; a good or evil life; the life of Indians, or of
miners.
- Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy.
- That which imparts or excites spirit or vigor; that upon
which enjoyment or success depends; as, he was the life of the company,
or of the enterprise.
- The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a
picture or a description from the life.
- A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many
lives were sacrificed.
- The system of animal nature; animals in general, or
considered collectively.
- An essential constituent of life, esp. the blood.
- A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as,
Johnson wrote the life of Milton.
- Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a
spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity.
- Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; -- used
as a term of endearment.
Meaning of 'life' (Princeton's WordNet)
Meaning (1):
- a characteristic state or mode of living
Example in sentence:- city life;
- real life;
- social life
Meaning (2):
- the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living
Example in sentence:- get a life!;
- he hoped for a new life in Australia;
- he is trying to rebuild his life;
- he wanted to live his own life without interference from others
Meaning (3):
- the period from the present until death
Example in sentence:- he appointed himself emperor for life
Meaning (4):
- the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
Example in sentence:- he could no longer cope with the complexities of life
Meaning (5):
- a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives
Example in sentence:- he got life for killing the guard
Meaning (6):
- the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
Example in sentence:- he lived a long and happy life;
- the battery had a short life
Meaning (7):
- a living person
Meaning (8):
- the period between birth and the present time
Example in sentence:- I have known him all his life
Meaning (9):
- animation and energy in action or expression
Example in sentence:- it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it
Meaning (10):
- the condition of living or the state of being alive
Example in sentence:- life depends on many chemical and physical processes;
- while there's life there's hope
Meaning (11):
- a motive for living
Meaning (12):
- living things collectively
Example in sentence:- the oceans are teeming with life
Meaning (13):
- the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones
Example in sentence:- there is no life on the moon
Definition
[ n.]