life

Everyday

1. Being alive: what people, animals and plants have and stones do not (they grow, feed, breathe, reproduce). tree →
2. The time from when someone is born until they die. tree →
3. The way someone lives: a busy life, city life. tree →
4. Living things in general: plant life, sea life. tree →
5. Energy and fun: full of life. tree →
6. In games: one of the chances you have before the game ends. tree →

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 →
• Is there life on Mars? tree →
• Grandma has lived here all her life. tree →
• The lifeguard saved a boy's life. tree →
• Wear a life jacket on the boat. tree →
• City life is busy and noisy. tree →
• The coral reef is full of sea life. tree →
• I lost my last life in the game. tree →
• The puppy is full of life. tree →
• Life became a burden to them.[273] tree →

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 →
• And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good: life for life. (Torah LEV.24.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Only flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Torah GEN.9.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (Prophets 1SA.7.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life. (Writings JOB.9.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• For Thy lovingkindness is better than life; my lips shall praise Thee. (Writings PSA.63.4, JPS 1917) tree →

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.