v. lived, liv·ing, lives v.intr. 1. To be alive; exist. 2. To continue to be alive: lived through a bad accident. 3. To support oneself; subsist: living on rice and fish; lives on a small inheritance. 4. To reside; dwell: lives on a farm. 5. To conduct one's life in a particular manner: lived frugally. 6. To pursue a positive, satisfying existence; enjoy life: those who truly live. 7. To remain in human memory: an event that lives on in our minds. v.tr. Phrasal Verbs: 1. To spend or pass (one's life). 2. To go through; experience: lived a nightmare. 3. To practice in one's life: live one's beliefs. live down To overcome or reduce the shame of (a misdeed, for example) over a period of time. live in To reside in the place where one is employed: household servants who live in. live out To live outside one's place of domestic employment: household servants who live out. live with Idioms: To put up with; resign oneself to: disliked the situation but had to live with it. live it up Slang To engage in festive pleasures or extravagances. live off/on the fat of the land To enjoy the best of everything; live in comfort or luxury. live up to 1. To live or act in accordance with: lived up to their parents' ideals. 2. To prove equal to: a new technology that did not live up to our expectations. 3. To carry out; fulfill: lived up to her end of the bargain. [Middle English liven, from Old English libban, lifian; see leip- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
adj. 2. Of, related to, or occurring during the life of one that is living: a live birth; the live weight of an animal before being slaughtered. 3. Of current interest or relevance: a live topic; still a live option. 4. Informal Full of life, excitement, or activity; lively: a live crowd at the parade; a live party. 5. Glowing; burning: live coals. 6. Not yet exploded but capable of being fired: live ammunition. 7. Electricity Carrying an electric current or energized with electricity: live cables lying dangerously on the ground. 8. Not mined or quarried; in the natural state: live ore. 9. a. Broadcast while actually being performed; not taped, filmed, or recorded: a live television program. b. Involving performers or spectators who are physically present: live entertainment; a live audience. 10. Of, relating to, or containing living bacteria or active viruses, sometimes in an attenuated form: live yogurt cultures; a live measles vaccine. 11. Printing Not yet set into type: live copy. 12. Sports In play: a live ball. adv. At, during, or from the time of actual occurrence or performance: The landing on the moon was telecast live. [Short for ALIVE.] liveness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.