[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/life/)

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# life

noun (a life, lives — uncountable in the general sense)

«life» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Being alive: what people, animals and plants have and stones do not (they grow, feed, breathe, reproduce). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m1)
2. The time from when someone is born until they die. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m2)
3. The way someone lives: a busy life, city life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m3)
4. Living things in general: plant life, sea life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m4)
5. Energy and fun: full of life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m5)
6. In games: one of the chances you have before the game ends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#m6)

### In the lessons

In science: signs of life (moving, breathing, growing, needing food, reproducing, sensing); life cycles of frogs, butterflies and plants; life on Earth needs water and sunlight. In safety: «life jacket», «lifeguard», «save a life». In stories: a character's life and adventures. Phrases: life cycle, real life, way of life, all my life, save a life, wildlife, lifetime, life jacket, bring to life.

### Examples

- A frog's life cycle starts with an egg. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x1)
- Is there life on Mars? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x2)
- Grandma has lived here all her life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x3)
- The lifeguard saved a boy's life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x4)
- Wear a life jacket on the boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x5)
- City life is busy and noisy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x6)
- The coral reef is full of sea life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x7)
- I lost my last life in the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x8)
- The puppy is full of life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x9)
- Life became a burden to them.\[273\] [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/#x10)

### Note

Plural: lives (f → v), said «lyves» — the same spelling as «lives» in «she lives here», which is said with a short i. Uncountable when it means living things in general: «There is a lot of life in the pond». Opposite: death.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah "life" is often tied to blood, which is the life of a creature, and "life for life" means that a life lost must be paid for fairly. Life is a gift from God.

**Interpretation.** Tradition forbids eating blood because blood is the life. It teaches that saving a life overrides almost every other commandment, and "life for life" is read as a rule of fair compensation, not revenge.

### Examples

- But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, (Torah EXO.21.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x1)
- And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good: life for life. (Torah LEV.24.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x2)
- Only flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Torah GEN.9.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x3)
- And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (Prophets 1SA.7.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x4)
- I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life. (Writings JOB.9.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x5)
- For Thy lovingkindness is better than life; my lips shall praise Thee. (Writings PSA.63.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/#x6)

### Note

Plural: lives (f → v), said «lyves» — the same spelling as «lives» in «she lives here», which is said with a short i. Uncountable when it means living things in general: «There is a lot of life in the pond». Opposite: death.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «life» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/life/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«life» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/life.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «life» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/life/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«life» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/life.html) on Mova free.