Live v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lived p. pr. & vb. n. Living.]
 1. To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity.
    Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live.   --Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6.
 2. To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully.
    O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions!   --Ecclus. xli. 1.
 3. To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside; as, to live in a cottage by the sea.
    Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years.   --Gen. xlvii. 28.
 4. To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; -- said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc.
 Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues
 We write in water.   --Shak.
 5. To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness; as, people want not just to exist, but to live.
 What greater curse could envious fortune give
 Than just to die when I began to live?   --Dryden.
 6. To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; -- with on; as, horses live on grass and grain.
 7. To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith.
    The just shall live by faith.   --Gal. iii. ll.
 8. To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils.
    Those who live by labor.   --Sir W. Temple.
 9. To outlast danger; to float; -- said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm.
    A strong mast that lived upon the sea.   --Shak.
 To live out, to be at service; to live away from home as a servant. [U. S.]
 To live with. (a) To dwell or to be a lodger with. (b) To cohabit with; to have intercourse with, as male with female.


 Lived a. Having life; -- used only in composition; as, long-lived; short-lived.

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