Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - love

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba ~, Old English leof dear, Latin lubere, libere to please  Date: before 12th century  1.  a.  (1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties maternal ~ for a child  (2) attraction based on sexual desire ; affection and tenderness felt by ~rs  (3) affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests ~ for his old schoolmates  b. an assurance of ~ give her my ~  2. warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion ~ of the sea  3.  a. the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration baseball was his first ~  b.  (1) a be~d person ; darling — often used as a term of endearment  (2) British — used as an informal term of address  4.  a. unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as  (1) the fatherly concern of God for humankind  (2) brotherly concern for others  b. a person's adoration of God  5. a god or personification of ~  6. an amorous episode ; ~ affair  7. the sexual embrace ; copulation  8. a score of zero (as in tennis)  9. capitalized, Christian Science god  II. verb  (~d; loving)  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1. to hold dear ; cherish  2.  a. to feel a ~r's passion, devotion, or tenderness for  b.  (1) caress  (2) to fondle amorously  (3) to copulate with  3. to like or desire actively ; take pleasure in ~d to play the violin  4. to thrive in the rose ~s sunlight  intransitive verb to feel affection or experience desire