life

English

/laɪf/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) 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.
  • The animating principle or force that keeps an inorganic thing or concept metaphorically alive (dynamic, relevant, etc) and makes it a "", "living constitution", etc.
  • Lifeforms, generally or collectively.
  • (countable) A living individual; the fact of a particular individual being alive. Chiefly when indicating individuals were lost (died) or saved.
  • Existence.
  • A period of time during which something has existence.
  • Animation; spirit; vivacity.
  • A biography.
  • Nature, reality, and the forms that exist in it.
  • An opportunity for existence.
  • (uncountable) The life insurance industry.
  • (countable) A life assured under a life assurance policy (equivalent to the policy itself for a single life contract).

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English lif inherited from Old English līf (life, life-time, existence) inherited from Proto-Germanic *lībą (life, body) derived from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (stick, leave, cling, linger, smudge, smear, remain, glue, continue, fat, sticky substance, oil, adhere, paste, adhesive, fat substance, fatty substance).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*leyp-

Gloss

stick, leave, cling, linger, smudge, smear, remain, glue, continue, fat, sticky substance, oil, adhere, paste, adhesive, fat substance, fatty substance

Concept
Semantic Field

Quantity

Ontological Category

Classifier

Kanji

脂

Emoji
🍡 🍢 🏑 🏒 🥍 🥢

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms