1 [mass noun] the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death:the origins of lifecats require visual experience during the first few weeks of life
living things and their activity:lower forms of lifethe ice-cream vendors were the only signs of lifethe valley is teeming with bird life
2the existence of an individual human being or animal:a disaster that claimed the lives of 266 people [mass noun]:she didn’t want to die; she loved life
[with adjective or noun modifier] a particular type or aspect of human existence:his father decided to start a new life in California [mass noun]:a teacher will help you settle into school liferevelations about his private life
a biography:a life of Shelley
(in Christianity and some other religious traditions) either of the two states of a person’s existence separated by death:he departed this life on 28 March 1912
(in Hinduism and some other religious traditions) any of a number of successive existences in which a soul is held to be reincarnated:a spiritual pilgrimage into her past lives
a chance to live after narrowly escaping death (with reference to the nine lives traditionally attributed to cats):we were called to the hospital, but the old rogue had nine lives and seemed to be negotiating for another two
(in various games) one of a specified number of chances each player has before being put out.
3 (usually one's life) the period between the birth and death of a living thing, especially a human being:she has lived all her life in the countrythey became friends for life
the period during which something inanimate or abstract continues to exist, function, or be valid:underlay helps to prolong the life of a carpet
[mass noun] informal a sentence of imprisonment for life.
4vitality, vigour, or energy:she was beautiful and full of life
5 [mass noun] (in art) the depiction of a subject from a real model, rather than from an artist’s imagination:the pose and clothing were sketched from lifeSee also still life.
come (or bring someone) to life
regain or cause to regain consciousness:all this was of great interest to her, as if she were coming to life after a long sleep
(with reference to a fictional character or inanimate object) cause or seem to be alive or real:he brings the character of MacDonald to life with power and precision
make or become active, lively, or interesting:soon, with the return of the fishermen, the village comes to life againbring any room to life with these coordinating cushions
do anything for a quiet life
make any concession to avoid being disturbed.
for dear (or one's) life
as if or in order to escape death:I clung on to the tree for dear lifeSue ran for her life
for the life of me
[with modal and negative] informal however hard I try; even if my life depended on it:I can’t for the life of me understand what you see in her
frighten the life out of
terrify:what do you mean by frightening the life out of me?
get a life
[often in imperative] informal start living a fuller existence:if he’s a waster then get yourself out of there and get a life
give one's life for
die for:he’s devoted to the royal family and would give his life for them
(as) large as life
informal used to emphasize that a person is conspicuously present:he was standing nearby, large as life
larger than life
(of a person) attracting special attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance or behaviour:he was a larger-than-life character on and off the pitch
the work (especially that of an academic or artistic nature) accomplished in or pursued throughout someone’s lifetime:a major exhibition of his life’s work
lose one's life
be killed:he lost his life in a car accident
a matter of life and death
a matter of vital importance:she would not go out on the Sabbath unless it was a matter of life and death
not on your life
informal said to emphasize one’s refusal to comply with a request:‘I want to see Clare alone.’ ‘Not on your life,’ said Buzz
save someone's (or one's own) life
prevent someone’s (or one’s own) death:the driver of the train managed to save his life by leaping out of the cab
informal provide much-needed relief from boredom or a difficult situation:Rosalind kissed her. ‘Oh you darling! You’ve saved my life! I’ve been so miserable’
see life
gain a wide experience of the world:playwrights are too busy writing plays to see life
take one's life in one's hands
risk being killed:with more cars around than ever, you take your life in your hands just crossing the road
take someone's (or one's own) life
kill someone (or oneself).
that's life
an expression of one’s acceptance of a situation, however difficult:we’ll miss each other, but still, that’s life
this is the life
an expression of contentment with one’s present circumstances:Ice cubes clinked in crystal glasses. ‘This is the life,’ she said
to the life
exactly like the original:there he was, Nathan to the life, sitting at a table
to save one's life
[with modal and negative] even if one’s life were to depend on it:she couldn’t stop crying now to save her life
