Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Love

Love (luv) , noun

[Old English love, luve, Anglo-Saxon lufe, lufu; akin to English lief, believe, Latin lubet, libet, it pleases, Sanskrit lubh to be lustful. See Lief.]

1.
A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters.
Of all the dearest bonds we prove Thou countest sons' and mothers' love Most sacred, most Thine own. — Keble
2.
Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex.
He on his side Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamored. — Milton
3.
Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, that is, to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage.
Demetrius... Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul. — Shakespeare
4.
Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to hate; often with of and an object.
Love, and health to all. — Shakespeare
Smit with the love of sacred song. — Milton
The love of science faintly warmed his breast. — Fenton
5.
Due gratitude and reverence to God.
Keep yourselves in the love of God. — Jude 21
6.
The object of affection; -- often employed in endearing address; as, he held his love in his arms; his greatest love was reading.
Trust me, love. — Dryden
Open the temple gates unto my love. — Spenser
7.
Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus.
Such was his form as painters, when they show Their utmost art, on naked Lores bestow. — Dryden
Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love. — Shakespeare
8.
A thin silk stuff. [Obsolete] — Boyle
9.
(Botany) A climbing species of Clematis (Clematis Vitalba).
10.
Nothing; no points scored on one side; -- used in counting score at tennis, etc.
He won the match by three sets to love. — The Field
11.
Sexual intercourse; -- a euphemism.
A little western flower, Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound; And maidens call it love-in-idleness. — Shakespeare

Love is often used in the formation of compounds, in most of which the meaning is very obvious; as, love-cracked, love-darting, love-killing, love-linked, love-taught, etc.

Love (luv) , transitive verb

[Anglo-Saxon lufian. r124. See Love, n.]

1.
To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. — Matt. xxii. 37
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. — Matt. xxii. 39
2.
To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex for the other.
3.
To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures.
Wit, eloquence, and poetry. Arts which I loved. — Cowley

Love , intransitive verb

To have the feeling of love; to be in love.