• Live

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: lÄ­v, IPA: /lɪv/
    • Rhymes: -ɪv

    Origin 1

    From Middle English liven, from Old English libban, lifian ("to live"), from Proto-Germanic *libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *leip- ("leave, cling, linger"). Cognate with West Frisian libje, Old Saxon libbian (German Low German lęven ("to live")), Dutch leven, Old High German lebēn (German leben), Old Norse lifa (Swedish leva), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (liban).

    Full definition of live

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To be alive; to have life.
      He's not expected to live for more than a few months.
    2. (intransitive) To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.
      I live at 2a Acacia Avenue.
      He lives in LA, but he's staying here over the summer.
      • 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate Chapter Prologue, Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. No omnibus, cab, or conveyance ever built could contain a young man in such a rage. His mother lived at Pembridge Square, which is four good measured miles from Lincoln's Inn.
      • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 10, It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
    3. (intransitive) To survive; to persevere; to continue.
      Her memory lives in that song.
    4. (intransitive, hyperbole) To cope.
      You'll just have to live with it!
      I can't live in a world without you.
    5. (transitive) To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually.
      To live an idle or a useful life.
      • 1921, Juanita Helm Floyd, S:Women in the Life of Balzac/Conclusion, Many people write their romances, others live them; Honore de Balzac did both.
      • 2011, December 19, Kerry Brown, Kim Jong-il obituary, By 1980, South Korea had overtaken its northern neighbour, and was well on its way to being one of the Asian tigers – high-performing economies, with democratic movements ultimately winning power in the 1990s. The withdrawal of most Soviet aid in 1991, with the fall of the Soviet empire, pushed North Korea further down. Kim Il-sung had held a genuine place on North Korean people's affections. His son was regarded as a shadowy playboy, with rumours circulating over the years that he imported Russian and Chinese prostitutes, and lived a life of profligacy and excess.
      • 2013-06-01, Towards the end of poverty, But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 (the average of the 15 poorest countries’ own poverty lines, measured in 2005 dollars and adjusted for differences in purchasing power): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.
    6. (transitive) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice.
      • John Foxe (1516/7-1587)to live the Gospel
      • 2006, Laura Cardone, Motivation at Work, Change happens from the inside out and this great resource can show you how to live the habits that build personal and professional effectiveness.
    7. To outlast danger; to float; said of a ship, boat, etc.
      No ship could live in such a storm.

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from live (verb)

    Related terms

    Terms etymologically related to live

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: lÄ«v, IPA: /laɪv/
    • Rhymes: -aɪv

    Origin 2

    See alive

    Adjective

    live

    1. (only used attributively) Having life; that is alive.The post office will not ship live animals.
    2. Being in existence; actualHe is a live example of the consequences of excessive drinking.
    3. Having active properties; being energized.
    4. Operational; being in actual use rather than in testing.
    5. (engineering) Imparting power; having motion.the live spindle of a lathe
    6. (sports) Still in active play.a live ball
    7. (broadcasting) Seen or heard from a broadcast, as it happens.The station presented a live news program every evening.
    8. Of a performance or speech, in person.This nightclub has a live band on weekends.
    9. Of a recorded performance, made in front of an audience, or not having been edited after recording.
    10. Of firearms or explosives, capable of causing harm.The air force practices dropping live bombs on the uninhabited island.
    11. (circuitry) Electrically charged or energized, usually indicating that the item may cause electrocution if touched.Use caution when working near live wires.
    12. (poker) Being a bet which can be raised by the bettor, usually in reference to a blind or straddle.Tommy's blind was live, so he was given the option to raise.
    13. Featuring humans; not animated, in the phrases “live actors” or “live action”.
    14. Being in a state of ignition; burning.a live coal; live embers
    15. (obsolete) Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing.a live man, or orator
    16. (obsolete) Vivid; bright.
      • Thomsonthe live carnation

    Usage notes

    Live in the sense of "having life" is used only attributively (before a noun), as in "live animals". Predicatively (after the noun), alive is used, as in "be alive". Living may be used either attributively or predicatively.

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from the adjective "live"

    Compounds

    Adverb

    live

    1. Of an event, as it happens; in real time; direct.The concert was broadcast live by radio.
    2. Of making a performance or speech, in person.''He'll be appearing live at the auditorium.

    Anagrams

    © Wiktionary
    • © 2013 - 2023 All Rights Reserved