Lover

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈlÊŒvÉš/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒvÉ™(r)

Alternative forms

• lovyer dialectal or obsolete

Origin

From Middle English lover, lovyere, derivative of loven, lovien ("to love"), equivalent to love + -er.

Full definition of lover

Noun

1. One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
• ShakespeareLove is blind, and lovers cannot see
  The pretty follies that themselves commit.
2. A sexual partner.
3. A person who loves something.a lover of fine winesa lover of his country
4. (West Country, with "my") An informal term of address for any friend.All right, me lover?

Synonyms

• love
• love interest
• sweetheart
• significant other
• (person who loves something) connoisseur

Derived terms

• lover's lane
  lovers' lane