/laɪf; laɪf/
n (pl lives / laIvz; laIvz/)
1 [U] ability to function and grow that distinguishes living animals and plants from dead ones and from rocks, metals, etc 生命
*the origins of life on earth 地球上生命的起源
* The motionless body showed no signs of life. 纹丝不动的躯体显示不出有生命的迹象.
2 [U] living things 生物; 活物
*Is there life on Mars? 火星上有生物吗?
* animal and plant life 动植物.
3 [U] state of being alive as a human being 人生; 人的生存
*The riot was brought under control without loss of life, ie without anyone being killed. 骚乱得到控制, 无人死亡.
4 [U] qualities, events and experiences that characterize existence as a human being 生活
*He does not want much from life. 他对生活所求无多.
* What do you expect? That's life! ie These things happen and must be expected and accepted. 你期待什么呢? 这就是生活（这些事常有, 必须想到并承受）!
5 [C] existence of an individual human being 人命; （人的）性命
*Doctors worked through the night to save the life of the injured man. 医生彻夜工作以拯救伤者的生命.
* Three lives were lost (ie Three people died) in the accident. 事故中三人丧生.
6 (a) [C] period between birth and death 一生; 终身; 终生
*She lived her whole life in the country. 她在农村度过一生.
* He spent his adult life in Canada. 他成年时期是在加拿大度过的.
(b) [C] period between birth and the present 有生以来
*I've lived here all my life. 我一生都住在这里.
7 [U]
(a) period between the present and death 从今到死; 终此一生
*a friend, job, membership for life. 终身的朋友、工作、成员资格.
(b) (infml 口) (also life sentence) sentence of imprisonment for the rest of one's life made by a court of law 终身监禁; 无期徒刑
*be given/get/do life 被判[落得/服]无期徒刑.
8 [U]
(a) business, pleasure and social activities of the world 事业; 欢乐; 社交
*As a taxi-driver you really see life. 你开计程车, 可真是见多识广了.
(b) activity; movement 活动
*There are few signs of life here in the evenings. 这里晚间没有什么活动的迹象.
9 [U] liveliness; interest 生命力; 活力; 兴趣
*Children are always so full of life. 儿童总是那么朝气蓬勃的.
* Put more life into your work. 你的工作多增加些活力吧.
10 [U, C] way of living 生活方式
*private/public life 私人[大众]的生活方式
* Village life is too dull for me. 我觉得乡村的生活方式太单调乏味了.
* have an easy/hard life 过闲适[艰苦]的生活
* Singing is her life, ie the most important thing in her existence. 唱歌是她的人生大事.
* That's the life (for me)! ie the best way to live. 这就是（我）最好的生活方式!
* He's decided to emigrate and start a new life in America. 他决定移居美国, 开始新的生活.
11 [C] biography 传记
*He's writing a life of Newton. 他在写牛顿的传记.
12 [U] living model 真人模特儿; 生物模型
*a portrait drawn/taken from life 以真人作模特儿的画像
* [attrib 作定语] a `life class, ie one in which art students draw, etc from living models 真人模特儿写生课.
13 [C] period during which sth continues to exist or function 寿命; 有效期; 存在期
*throughout the life of the present government 现政府任期期间
* [attrib 作定语] a long-life battery 长寿电池.
14 [C]
(a) fresh start or opportunity after a narrow escape （脱险後的）新开端, 新机会
*The batsman was given a life (eg because a fielder missed an easy catch) when his score was 24. 那击球员积分到24分时获一新机会（如外场员未接住一易接的球）.
(b) (in children's games) one of a set number of chances before a player is out of the game （儿童游戏中）参加者的一次机会（若干失误则出局）.
15 (idm 习语) at one's time of life => time1. the bane of sb's existence/life => bane. the breath of life => breath. bring sb/sth to `life give sb/sth vitality 给某人[某事物]的活力
*Let's invite Ted -- he knows how to bring a party to life. 我们邀请特德吧--有他到会就热闹了. a cat-and-dog life => cat1. the change of life => change2. come to `life become animated 变活泼
*You're very cool with your brother, but with your friends you really come to life. 你对你弟弟冷冰冰的, 但跟朋友在一起倒很活跃.
* Sunrise -- and the farm comes to life again. 太阳一升起, 农场就又活了. depart this life => depart. end one's days/life => end2. expectation of life => expectation. a fact of life => fact. the facts of life => fact. for dear `life/one's `life (as if) in order to escape death （彷佛）逃命般, 拚命地
*Run for your life! 拚命跑吧! for the `life of one (infml 口) however hard one tries 无论怎样努力
*I cannot for the life of me remember her name. 我怎么也想不起她的名字. frighten the life out of sb => frighten. full of beans/life => full. have the time of one's life => time1. in fear of one's life => fear1. in peril of one's life => peril. large as life => large. larger than life => large. lay down one's life (for sb/sth) (rhet 修辞) sacrifice one's life 献身; 牺牲生命
*He laid down his life for the cause of freedom. 他为自由的事业献出了生命. lead a dog's life => lead3. lead sb a dog's life => lead3. ,life and `limb one's survival from accident or injury 幸免于难
*Fire-fighters risk life and limb every day in their work. 消防队员的工作每天都是出生入死的. the life and soul of sth (infml 口) the most lively and amusing person present at a party, etc （聚会等中的）最活跃和最风趣的人物. the love of sb's life => love1. make (sb's) life a `misery cause sb to be unhappy or suffer pain in daily life 使某人日子不好过
*Having unpleasant neighbours can make one's life an absolute misery. 邻居不好也能叫人度日如年. make one's way in life => way2. a matter of life and death => matter1. a new lease of life => new. not on your (sweet) `life! (infml 口) certainly not 当然不. put an end to one's life/oneself => end1. sell one's life dearly => sell. spring to life => spring3. the staff of life => staff. take one's (own) `life commit suicide 自杀. take one's life in one's hands risk being killed 冒生命危险
*You take your life in your hands simply crossing the road these days! 近来就连过马路也得豁出命才行! take sb's `life kill sb 取某人性命. to the `life exactly like the original 逼真
*draw, imitate, resemble sb to the life 画某人画得逼真、仿某人仿得维妙维肖、酷似某人. true to life => true. walk of life => walk2. a/sb's way of life => way1.

nplurallives [laɪvz/