Love: the Verb. as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary

verbatim (not including phrases or usage, though that is arguably the best part):

love, v.1 DRAFT REVISION June 2010

Etm. /lv/, U.S. /lv/  Forms: . OE hlufian (rare), OE lufian, OE luuian (rare), lOE lofodest (2nd singular past indicative, perh. transmission error), lOE louian, eME louie, eME lufie, eME luuige, eME luuie, ME lofuie, ME loueie, ME louie, ME louy, ME louye, ME lovy, ME lovye, ME lowie, ME lufie, ME luuie, ME luuye.. ME lof, ME lofe, ME loffe, ME lofue, ME looue, ME louf, ME lovue, ME low, ME lowe, ME lowfe, ME luf, ME lufe, ME luff, ME luffe, ME luud (past tense), ME luue, ME-16 loue, ME- love, 15 lub, 15 lubbe, 15 luve, 15-16 loove, 18- luv

Definitions after the jump


1. a. trans. To have or feel love towards (a person, a thing personified) (for a quality or attribute); to entertain a great affection, fondness, or regard for; to hold dear. Opposed to HATE v. 1.
  Distinguished from sexual love: see sense 1b.

    b. trans. To feel sexual love for (a person); to be in love with. In early use also: to fondle, caress (obs.).
  to love par amour(s): see PARAMOUR adv. 1a.

    c. intr. To entertain a strong affection, to feel love; spec. to have a passionate attachment to another; to be in love.

    d. intr. Reciprocally: to feel love for each other or for one another; similarly to love together (also samen) (obs.). Now somewhat arch.

    e. trans. With cognate object or complement. Obs.

    f. intr. to love with: to feel love for, to pay court to; to be in love with. Obs.

    g. trans. colloq. (orig. U.S.). To show love towards, in the manner of a child; to embrace affectionately; to caress, fondle; to engage in love play with. Now usu. with up.

2. trans. With a thing as object.

    a. To be strongly attached to; to be unwilling to part with or allow to perish (life, honour, etc.).

    b. To have a strong liking for; to be fond of; to be devoted or addicted to. Also, in weakened sense: to like, to be partial to (chiefly U.S. regional (south. and south Midland)).

    c. To take pleasure in the existence of (a virtue, a practice, a state of things) in oneself, in others, or more generally.

    d. To regard with favour, approve of (an action); to approve or agree to (an action, undertaking, etc.). Also with clause as object: to recommend that something be done. Obs.

3. trans. With clausal objects.

    a. With inf. To take great pleasure (in doing something). Also (rarely) of things [compare classical Latin amre, ancient Greek , in this sense]:  to be accustomed (obs.).

    b. With direct object and infinitive or clause: to desire or like (something to be done). Also (chiefly U.S.) with for preceding the notional subject of the infinitive clause.

    c. With gerund or verbal noun as object: to enjoy, to take pleasure in (doing, being, etc.). Cf. LIKE v.1 Additions.

    d. With that clause as object. To desire or like (an outcome); to be pleased with (a situation or fact).

4. trans. [Compare classical Latin amre, dligere, in this sense] Of a plant or (less commonly) an animal: to have a tendency to thrive in (a particular kind of situation).