Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Live?

\Live\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Lived}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Living}.] [OE. liven, livien, AS. libban, lifian; akin to OS. libbian, D. leven, G. leben, OHG. leb[=e]n, Dan. leve, Sw. lefva, Icel. lifa to live, to be left, to remain, Goth. liban to live; akin to E. leave to forsake, and life, Gr. liparei^n to persist, liparo`s oily, shining, sleek, li`pos fat, lard, Skr. lip to anoint, smear; -- the first sense prob. was, to cleave to, stick to; hence, to remain, stay; and hence, to live.] 1. To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live. --Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6. 2. To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully. O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions! --Ecclus. xli. 1. 3. To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. --Gen. xlvii. 28. 4. To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; -- said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc. Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water. --Shak. 5. To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness. What greater curse could envious fortune give Than just to die when I began to live? --Dryden. 6. To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; -- with on; as, horses live on grass and grain. 7. To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith. The just shall live by faith. --Gal. iii. ll. 8. To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils. Those who live by labor. --Sir W. Temple. 9. To outlast danger; to float; -- said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm. A strong mast that lived upon the sea. --Shak. {To live out}, to be at service; to live away from home as a servant. [U. S.] {To live with}. (a) To dwell or to be a lodger with. (b) To cohabit with; to have intercourse with, as male with female.
\Live\, v. t. 1. To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually; as, to live an idle or a useful life. 2. To act habitually in conformity with; to practice. To live the Gospel. --Foxe. {To live down}, to live so as to subdue or refute; as, to live down slander.
\Live\, a. [Abbreviated from alive. See {Alive}, {Life}.] 1. Having life; alive; living; not dead. If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it. --Ex. xxi. 35. 2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers. `` The live ether.'' --Thomson. 3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator. 4. Vivid; bright. `` The live carnation.'' --Thomson. 5. (Engin.) Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe. {Live birth}, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. --Dunglison. {Live box}, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. --P. H. Gosse. {Live feathers}, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic. {Live gang}. (Sawing) See under {Gang}. {Live grass} (Bot.), a grass of the genus {Eragrostis}. {Live load} (Engin.), a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof. {Live oak} (Bot.), a species of oak ({Quercus virens}), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the {Q. chrysolepis} and some other species are also called live oaks. {Live ring} (Engin.), a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns. {Live steam}, steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from {exhaust steam}. {Live stock}, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm. whole body.
\Live\, n. Life. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {On live}, in life; alive. [Obs.] See {Alive}. --Chaucer.