life
noun
laɪf 
laɪf laɪvz laɪvz state of living
1 [uncountable] the ability to breathe, grow, reproduce, etc. which people, animals and plants have before they die and which objects do not havelife and deathThe body was cold and showed no signs of life.My father died last year—I wish I could bring him back to life.In spring the countryside bursts into life.2 [uncountable, countable] the state of being alive as a human; an individual person's existenceThe floods caused a massive loss of life (= many people were killed).He risked his life to save his daughter from the fire.Hundreds of lives were threatened when the building collapsed.The operation saved her life.My grandfather lost his life (= was killed) in the war.Several attempts have been made on the President's life (= several people have tried to kill him).living things
3 [uncountable] living thingsplant/animal lifemarine/pond lifeIs there intelligent life on other planets?period of time
4 [countable, uncountable] the period between somebody's birth and their death; a part of this periodHe's lived here all his life.I've lived in England for most of my life.to have a long/short lifeHe became very weak towards the end of his life.Brenda took up tennis late in life.He will spend the rest of his life (= until he dies) in a wheelchair.There's no such thing as a job for life any longer.She is a life member of the club.in early/adult life see also change of life5 [countable] (used with an adjective) a period of somebody's life when they are in a particular situation or jobShe has been an accountant all her working life.He met a lot of interesting people during his life as a student.They were very happy throughout their married life.6 [countable] the period of time when something exists or functionsThe International Stock Exchange started life as a London coffee shop.They could see that the company had a limited life (= it was going to close).In Italy the average life of a government is eleven months. see also shelf lifepunishment
7 [uncountable] the punishment of being sent to prison for life; life imprisonmentThe judge gave him life.She is doing life for murder.experience/activities
8 [uncountable] the experience and activities that are typical of all people's existencesthe worries of everyday lifeHe is young and has little experience of life.Commuting is a part of daily life for many people.Jill wants to travel and see life for herself.We bought a dishwasher to make life easier.In London life can be hard.In real life (= when she met him) he wasn't how she had imagined him at all.Life can be difficult when you move to a new town.Life isn't like in the movies, you know.9 [uncountable, countable] the activities and experiences that are typical of a particular way of livingcountry/city lifeShe enjoyed political life.family/married lifeHow do you find life in Japan?10 [countable] a person's experiences during their life; the activities that form a particular part of a person's lifeHe has had a good life.a hard/an easy lifeMy day-to-day life is not very exciting.a life of luxuryHer daily life involved meeting lots of people.She lived a quiet life in the countryside.Many of these children have led very sheltered lives (= they have not had many different experiences).They emigrated to start a new life in Canada.He doesn't like to talk about his private life.She has a full social life.articles about the love lives of the stars see also sex lifeenergy/excitement
11 [uncountable] the quality of being active and excitingSynonym
vitalityThis is a great holiday resort that is full of life.in art
12 [uncountable] a living model or a real object or scene that people draw or paintShe had lessons in drawing from life.a life class (= one in which art students draw a naked man or woman) see also still lifein children's games
14 [countable] one of a set number of chances before a player is out of a gameHe's lost two lives, so he's only got one left.Idioms
be somebody's life
be the most important person or thing to somebody
My children are my life.Writing is his life.bring somebody/something to life
to make somebody/something more interesting or exciting
The new teacher really brought French to life for us.Flowers can bring a dull room back to life.come to life
1 to become more interesting, exciting or full of activityThe match finally came to life in the second half.2 to start to act or move as if aliveIn my dream all my toys came to life.for dear life
|for your life
as hard or as fast as possible
She was holding on to the rope for dear life.Run for your life!for the life of you
(informal) however hard you tryI cannot for the life of me imagine why they want to leave.frighten/scare the life out of somebody
to frighten somebody very much
You scared the life out of me coming in so suddenly like that.full of beans/life
having a lot of energy
get a life
(informal) used to tell somebody to stop being boring and to do something more interestingDo us all a favour… get a life!lay down your life (for somebody/something)
(literary) to die in order to save somebody/somethingSynonym
sacrifice yourselfThey were prepared to lay down their lives for their country.lead/live the life of Riley
(old-fashioned, often disapproving) to live an enjoyable and comfortable life with no problems or responsibilitiesThe two crooks had been living the life of Riley.He planned to retire early and then lead the life of Riley.life after death
the possibility or belief that people continue to exist in some form after they die
Do you believe in life after death?the life and soul of the party, etc.
(British English) the most amusing and interesting person at a party, etc.life is cheap
(disapproving) used to say that there is a situation in which it is not thought to be important if people somewhere die or are treated badly(have) a life of its own
(of an object) seeming to move or function by itself without a person touching or working itlife's too short
(informal) used to say that it is not worth wasting time doing something that you dislike or that is not importantmake life difficult (for somebody)
to cause problems for somebody
She does everything she can to make life difficult for him.the man/woman in your life
(informal) the man or woman that you are having a sexual or romantic relationship withAnna has a new man in her life.not on your life
(informal) used to refuse very firmly to do somethingtake somebody's life
to kill somebody
take your (own) life
to kill yourself
take your life in your hands
to risk being killed
You take your life in your hands just crossing the road here.that's life
(informal) used when you are disappointed about something but know that you must accept itIt's a shame I can't go on the trip, but that's life.where there's life (, there's hope)
(saying) in a bad situation you must not give up hope because there is always a chance that it will improve
Usage note: The living worldAnimalsanimals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)birds fly/migrate/nest/singinsects crawl/fly/bite/stinginsects/bees/locusts swarmbees collect/gather nectar/pollenspiders spin/weave a websnakes/lizards shed their skinsbears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernateinsect larvae grow/develop/pupatean egg/a chick/a larva hatchesattract/find/choose a mateproduce/release eggs/spermlay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggsinhabit a forest/a reef/the coastmark/enter/defend (a) territorystalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill preyPlants and fungitrees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flowera seed germinates/sproutsleaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/formflower buds swell/opena fungus grows/spreads/colonizes somethingpollinate/fertilize a flower/plantproduce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/sporesproduce/bear fruitdevelop/grow/form roots/shoots/leavesprovide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrientsperform/increase/reduce photosynthesisBacteria and virusesbacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiplybacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on somethingbacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause diseasebacteria break something down/convert something (into something)a virus enters/invades something/the bodya virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteriacontain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a viruskill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria