life
IPA: ɫˈaɪf
noun
- (uncountable) The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
- (biology) The status possessed by any of a number of entities, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and sometimes viruses, which have the properties of replication and metabolism.
- The animating principle or force that keeps an inorganic thing or concept metaphorically alive (dynamic, relevant, etc) and makes it a "living document", "living constitution", etc.
- Lifeforms, generally or collectively.
- (countable) A living individual; the fact of a particular individual being alive. (Chiefly when indicating individuals were lost (died) or saved.)
- Existence.
- A worthwhile existence.
- A particular aspect of existence.
- (informal) Social life.
- Something which is inherently part of a person's existence, such as job, family, a loved one, etc.
- A period of time during which something has existence.
- The period during which one (a person, an animal, a plant; a civilization, species; a star; etc) is alive.
- The span of time during which an object operates.
- The period of time during which an object is recognizable.
- A particular phase or period of existence.
- A period extending from a when a (positive or negative) office, punishment, etc is conferred on someone until that person dies (or, sometimes, reaches retirement age).
- (colloquial) A life sentence; a period of imprisonment that lasts until the convict's death (or, sometimes, parole).
- Animation; spirit; vivacity.
- The most lively component or participant.
- A biography.
- Nature, reality, and the forms that exist in it.
- An opportunity for existence.
- (video games) One of the player's chances to play, lost when the player's character dies or when certain mistakes are made.
- (baseball, softball, cricket) A chance for the batter (or batting team) to bat again, given as a result of an misplay by a member of the fielding team.
- One of a player's chances to play in various children's playground games, lost when a mistake is made, for example being struck by the ball in dodgeball.
- (uncountable, insurance) The life insurance industry.
- (countable) A life assured under a life assurance policy (equivalent to the policy itself for a single life contract).
- (chiefly Christian Science) God.
- (cellular automata) Conway's Game of Life.
- A surname.
verb
- (aviation) To replace components whose operational lifetime has expired.
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Examples of "life" in Sentences
- The life span of humans is finite.
- Obama has no regard for human life.
- The cost of human life is priceless.
- Murder is the unlawful taking of human life.
- The animal comes to life and serenades the girl.
- The animal requited the hunter for saving a life.
- The animals are just a speck in the variation of life.
- Modernists were aware of the randomness of human life.
- The evolution of life and the development of the human mind.
- It is a category for animal life of the seashore of the British Isles.
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