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1. Dictionary

   Life

   /līf/

   

   noun

   • 1. the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death: "the origins of life" Similar existencebeinglivinganimationalivenessanimatenessentitysentiencecreationsurvivalviabilityrare:esseOpposite deathnonexistence
   • ▪ living things and their activity: "lower forms of life" Similar living thingsliving beingsliving creaturesthe livinghuman/animal/plant lifefaunafloraecosystemscreatureswildlifehuman beingshumanityhumankindmankindmanhuman activityliterary:flesh
   • 2. the existence of an individual human being or animal: "a disaster that claimed the lives of 266 Americans" Similar personhuman beingindividualmortalsoulcreature
   • ▪ a particular type or aspect of people's existence: "his father decided to start a new life in California" Similar way of lifeway of livingmanner of livinglifestylesituationpositionstatestationconditionset of circumstancesfatelotspherefieldlinecareerbusiness
   • ▪ a biography: "a life of Shelley" Similar biographyautobiographylife storylife historymemoirhistoryprofilediaryjournalconfessionsrecordchronicleaccountreportportrayaldepictionportraitinformal:biogbio
   • ▪ either of the two states of a person's existence separated by death (as in Christianity and some other religious traditions): "too much happiness in this life could reduce the chances of salvation in the next" Similar lifetimelife spandaysduration of lifeallotted spancourse of lifetime on earthexistenceone's timeone's careerthreescore years and tenthis mortal coilinformal:one's born days
   • ▪ any of a number of successive existences in which a soul is held to be reincarnated (as in Hinduism and some other religious traditions): "a spiritual pilgrimage into her past lives"
   • ▪ a chance to live after narrowly escaping death (with reference to the nine lives traditionally attributed to cats): "we were called to the hospital, but the old rogue had nine lives and seemed to be negotiating for another two"
   • 3. the period between the birth and death of a living thing, especially a human being: "she has lived all her life in the country" Similar lifetimelife spandaysduration of lifeallotted spancourse of lifetime on earthexistenceone's timeone's careerthreescore years and tenthis mortal coilinformal:one's born days
   • ▪ the period during which something inanimate or abstract continues to exist, function, or be valid: "underlay helps to prolong the life of a carpet" Similar durationactive lifelifetimeexistencefunctioning periodperiod of effectivenessperiod of usefulnessvalidityefficacy
   • ▪ a sentence of imprisonment for life. informal
   • 4. vitality, vigor, or energy: "she was beautiful and full of life" Similar vivacityanimationlivelinessvitalityvervehigh spiritssparkleexuberancezestbuoyancyeffervescenceenthusiasmenergyvigordynamismgoelangustobriobouncespiritspiritednessactivityfirepanachecolordashdrivepushbusinessbustlehustle and bustlemovementstirinformal:oomphpizzazzpepzingzipvimget-up-and-gomoving spiritmoving forceanimating spiritvital spiritspiritvital sparklife forcelifebloodessencecoreheartsoulstrengthquintessencesubstanceélan vital
   • 5. (in art) the depiction of a subject from a real model, rather than from an artist's imagination: "the pose and clothing were sketched from life"

   Word Origin Old Englishlīf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijf, German Leib ‘body’, also to live1.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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2. www.britannica.com › science › lifeLife | Definition, Origin, Evolution, Diversity, & Facts |...

   www.britannica.com › science › life

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   Apr 16, 2024 · life, living matter and, as such, matter that shows certain attributes that include responsiveness, growth, metabolism, energy transformation, and reproduction. Although a noun, as with other defined entities, the word life might be better cast as a verb to reflect its essential status as a process. Life comprises individuals, living beings ...

3. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › LifeLife - Wikipedia

   en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Life

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   Since there is no consensus for a definition of life, most current definitions in biology are descriptive. Life is considered a characteristic of something that preserves, furthers or reinforces its existence in the given environment.

4. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionlife noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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   Definition of life noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishLIFE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   life noun (WAY OF LIVING) B1. a way of living: You lead an exciting life. family/private/sex, etc life. B1. one part of someone's existence: My private life is nobody's business but mine. life noun (ACTIVITY) B2. energy and activity: She was always bubbly and full of life.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › lifeLife - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › life

   Life is everything that happens: When people say, "That's life," they mean all the events and tendencies, the human condition itself. You might hear about "city life" — or "country life" for that matter — meaning the habits and expectations of inhabitants of a particular place. Definitions of life. noun.

7. www.khanacademy.org › biology › intro-to-biologyWhat is life? (article) | Intro to biology | Khan Academy

   www.khanacademy.org › biology › intro-to-biology

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   What is it that defines life? How can we tell that one thing is alive and another is not? Most people have an intuitive understanding of what it means for something to be alive. However, it’s surprisingly hard to come up with a precise definition of life.

8. www.britannica.com › dictionary › lifeLife Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

   www.britannica.com › dictionary › life

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   LIFE meaning: 1 : the ability to grow, change, etc., that separates plants and animals from things like water or rocks; 2 : the period of time when a person is alive