life (l?f)n. pl. lives (l?vz) 1. a. The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism.b. The characteristic state or condition of a living organism.2. Living organisms considered as a group: plant life; marine life.3. A living being, especially a person: an earthquake that claimed hundreds of lives.4. The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute existence: the artistic life of a writer.5. a. The interval of time between birth and death: She led a good, long life.b. The interval of time between one’s birth and the present: has had hay fever all his life.c. A particular segment of one’s life: my adolescent life.d. The period from an occurrence until death: elected for life; paralyzed for life.e. Slang A sentence of imprisonment lasting till death.6. The time for which something exists or functions: the useful life of a car.7. A spiritual state regarded as a transcending of corporeal death.8. An account of a person’s life; a biography.9. Human existence, relationships, or activity in general: real life; everyday life.10. a. A manner of living: led a hard life.b. A specific, characteristic manner of existence. Used of inanimate objects: “Great institutions seem to have a life of their own, independent of those who run them” (New Republic).c. The activities and interests of a particular area or realm: musical life in New York.11. a. A source of vitality; an animating force: She’s the life of the show.b. Liveliness or vitality; animation: a face that is full of life.12. a. Something that actually exists regarded as a subject for an artist: painted from life.b. Actual environment or reality; nature.adj.1. Of or relating to animate existence; involved in or necessary for living: life processes.2. Continuing for a lifetime; lifelong: life partner; life imprisonment.3. Using a living model as a subject for an artist: a life sculpture.Idioms: as big as life1. Life-size.2. Actually present. bring to life1. To cause to regain consciousness.2. To put spirit into; animate.3. To make lifelike. come to life To become animated; grow excited. for dear life Desperately or urgently: I ran for dear life when I saw the tiger. for life Till the end of one’s life. for the life of (one) Though trying hard: For the life of me I couldn’t remember his name. not on your life Informal Absolutely not; not for any reason whatsoever. take (one’s) life To commit suicide. take (one’s) life in (one’s) hands To take a dangerous risk. take (someone’s) life To commit murder. the good life A wealthy, luxurious way of living. the life of Riley Informal An easy life. the life of the party Informal An animated, amusing person who is the center of attention at a social gathering. to save (one’s) life No matter how hard one tries: He can’t ski to save his life. true to life Conforming to reality.[Middle English, from Old English l?f; see leip- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.life (la?f) n, pl lives (la?vz) 1. (Biology) the state or quality that distinguishes living beings or organisms from dead ones and from inorganic matter, characterized chiefly by metabolism, growth, and the ability to reproduce and respond to stimuli. 2. the period between birth and death3. a living person or being: to save a life. 4. the time between birth and the present time5. a. the remainder or extent of one’s lifeb. (as modifier): a life sentence; life membership; life subscription; life work. 6. (Law) short for life imprisonment7. the amount of time that something is active or functioning: the life of a battery. 8. a present condition, state, or mode of existence: my life is very dull here. 9. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a. a biographyb. (as modifier): a life story. 10. a. a characteristic state or mode of existence: town life. b. (as modifier): life style. 11. the sum or course of human events and activities12. liveliness or high spirits: full of life. 13. a source of strength, animation, or vitality: he was the life of the show. 14. (Biology) all living things, taken as a whole: there is no life on Mars; plant life. 15. (Brewing) sparkle, as of wines16. strong or high flavour, as of fresh food17. (Art Terms) (modifier) arts drawn or taken from a living model: life drawing; a life mask. 18. physics another name for lifetime19. (Games, other than specified) (in certain games) one of a number of opportunities of participation20. as large as life informal real and living21. larger than life in an exaggerated form22. come to life a. to become animate or consciousb. to be realistically portrayed or represented23. for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation24. for the life of one though trying desperately25. go for your life informal Austral and NZ an expression of encouragement26. a matter of life and death a matter of extreme urgency27. not on your life informal certainly not28. the life and soul informal a person regarded as the main source of merriment and liveliness: the life and soul of the party. 29. the life of Riley informal an easy life30. to the life (of a copy or image) resembling the original exactly31. to save one’s life informal in spite of all considerations or attempts: he couldn’t play football to save his life. 32. the time of one’s life a memorably enjoyable time33. true to life faithful to reality[Old English l?f; related to Old High German lib, Old Norse l?f life, body]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014life (la?f) n., pl. lives (l?vz), adj. n. 1. the general condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, a means of reproduction, and internal regulation in response to the environment. 2. the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one’s life; a long life. 3. a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life. 4. the general or universal condition of human existence: Life is like that. 5. any specified period of animate existence: a couple in middle life. 6. the period of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something inanimate, as a machine, lease, or play. 7. a living being: Several lives were lost in the fire. 8. living things collectively: insect life. 9. a particular aspect of existence: an active sex life. 10. the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that constitute a person’s existence. 11. a biography: a life of Willa Cather. 12. animation; liveliness; spirit: The party was full of life. 13. resilience; elasticity. 14. the force that makes or keeps something alive; the vivifying or quickening principle. 15. a mode or manner of existence, as in the world of affairs or society. 16. life sentence. 17. anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life: She was his life. 18. a person or thing that enlivens: the life of the party. 19. effervescence or sparkle, as of wines. 20. pungency or strong, sharp flavor, as of substances when fresh or in good condition. 21. nature or any of the forms of nature as the model or subject of a work of art: drawn from life. adj. 22. for or lasting a lifetime; lifelong: a life membership in a club; life imprisonment. 23. of or pertaining to animate existence: life functions. 24. working from nature or using a living model: a life drawing. Idioms: 1. bring to life, a. to restore to consciousness. b. to make animated. c. to imbue with lifelike characteristics. 2. come to life, a. to recover consciousness. b. to become animated. c. to appear lifelike. 3. for dear life, with the most desperate effort possible. 4. for the life of one, even with the utmost effort. 5. get a life, to improve the quality of one’s social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone’s behavior. 6. not on your life, absolutely not. 7. take one’s life in one’s hands, to risk death knowingly. 8. to the life, in perfect imitation; exactly. [before 900; Middle English lif(e); Old English l?f, c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old Norse l?f, Old High German l?b life, body; akin to live1] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.life (l?f)1. The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and nonliving matter. Life is shown in an organism that has the ability to grow, carry on metabolism, respond to stimuli, and reproduce.2. Living organisms considered as a group: plant life; marine life.The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.LifeSee also biology; zoology abiogenesisBiology. the production of living organisms from inanimate matter. Also called spontaneous generation. ? abiogenetic, adj.abiosisa state or condition in which life is absent. ? abiotic, abiotical, adj.anabiosisa revival or return to a living state after apparent death. ? anabiotic, adj.athanasiaimmortality.biochemistrythe study of the chemical processes that take place in living organisms. ? biochemist, n. ? biochemical, adj.biogenesis, biogeny1. the process by which living organisms develop from other living organisms.2. the belief that this process is the only way in which living organisms can develop. ? biogenetic, biogenic, adj.biologythe science or study of all manner of life and living organisms. ? biologist, n. ? biological, adj.biolysisthe destruction of life, as by bacteria. ? biolytic, adj.biometrics, biometry.1. the calculation of the probable extent of human lifespans.2. the application to biology of mathematical and statistical theory and methods. ? biometric, biometrical, adj.biospherethat part of the earth?s surface where most forms of life exist, specifically those parts where there is water or atmosphere.mechanismPhilosophy. the theory or doctrine that all the phenomena of the universe, especially life, can ultimately be explained in terms of physics and chemistry and that the difference between organic and inorganic lies only in degree. Cf. vitalism. ? mechanist, n. ? mechanistic, adj.ontogenesisontogeny. ? ontogenetic, ontogenetical, adj.ontogenythe life cycle, development, or developmental history of an organism. Also called ontogenesis. ? ontogenic, adj.parthenogenesisBiology. the development of an egg or seed without fertilization. Also called unigenesis. ? parthenogenetic, adj.physiologythe branch of biology that studies the functions and vital processes of living organisms. ? physiologist, n. ? physiologic, physiological, adj.spontaneous generationabiogenesis.unigenesisasexual reproduction; parthenogenesis. ? unigenetic, adj.vitalism1. Philosophy. the doctrine that phenomena are only partly controlled by mechanistic forces and are in some measure self-determining.2. Biology. the doctrine that the life in living organisms is caused and sustained by a vital principle that is distinct from all physical and chemical forces. Cf. mechanism. ? vitalist, n. ? vitalistic, adj.vitativenessPhrenology. 1. the love of life and fear of death.2. the organ serving as the seat of instincts of self-preservation.zoism1. Philosophy. a doctrine that the phenomena of life are controlled by a vital principle, as Bergson?s élan vital.2. a high regard for animal life.3. a belief in animal magnetism. ? zoist, n. ? zoistic, adj.-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.