True to life - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024
life /laɪf/USA pronunciation   n., pl. lives (līvz), adj. 
n. 
  1. Biology the general condition, quality, or force that separates organisms from objects and from dead organisms, and that shows itself in the ability of organisms to grow, reproduce, and change in response to the environment:[uncountable]There are many forms of life on earth.
  2. the period or amount of time of living existence of an individual;
    lifetime:[countable]She led a long life.
  3. the period of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something not living or inanimate:[countable]The life of a new car is quite a few years.
  4. the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that make up a person's existence:[uncountable]Life is full of ups and downs.
  5. a living being:[countable]Several lives were lost in the fire.
  6. living things thought of as a group:[uncountable]insect life.
  7. a biography:[countable]a life of Willa Cather.
  8. liveliness;
    spirit;
    activity:[uncountable]The party was full of life.
  9. a person or thing that enlivens:[countable* usually singular]the life of the party.
  10. a manner of existing characteristic of a particular group, time, place, etc.:[uncountable]He enjoyed the bustle of city life.
  11. [uncountable] a prison sentence of spending one's life in prison.
  12. anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life:[countable* usually singular]She was his life.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. for or lasting a lifetime;
    lifelong:life imprisonment.
  2. of or relating to living, animate existence:life functions.
Idioms
  1. Idioms bring to life:
    • [~ + object + to life] to restore to consciousness;
      bring to.
    • [~ + object + to life] to make animated, lively, and interesting:He brought the party to life.
    • to give or represent with characteristics that are like life: [~ + to life + object]The movie brings to life a great historical event.[~ + object + to life]It brings it all to life.
  2. Idioms come to life:
    • to recover consciousness;
      come to.
    • to become animated, lively, and interesting.
    • to appear lifelike:The sculptor made the ancient god come to life.
  3. Idioms for dear life, with the most desperate effort possible:He hung on to the slippery rope for dear life.
  4. for life, for as long as one lives:friends for life.
  5. Idioms for the life of one, [with a negative word] even with the greatest effort:I can't solve that problem for the life of me.
  6. Idioms not on your life, absolutely not:Want to go back to that nightclub?— Not on your life, pal!
  7. Idioms take one's life in one's hands, to risk death by knowingly doing something very dangerous.
  8. take (someone's) life, to kill.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024
life  (līf ),USA pronunciation n., pl. lives (līvz),USA pronunciation  adj. 

n. 
  1. Biologythe condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.
  2. Biologythe sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, esp. metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.
  3. the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual:to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one.
  4. a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul:eternal life.
  5. the general or universal condition of human existence:Too bad, but life is like that.
  6. any specified period of animate existence:a man in middle life.
  7. the period of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something inanimate, as a machine, lease, or play:The life of the car may be ten years.
  8. a living being:Several lives were lost.
  9. living things collectively:the hope of discovering life on other planets; insect life.
  10. a particular aspect of existence:He enjoys an active physical life.
  11. the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that constitute a person's existence:His business has been his entire life.
  12. a biography:a newly published life of Willa Cather.
  13. animation;
    liveliness;
    spirit:a speech full of life.
  14. resilience;
    elasticity.
  15. the force that makes or keeps something alive;
    the vivifying or quickening principle:The life of the treaty has been an increase of mutual understanding and respect.
  16. a mode or manner of existence, as in the world of affairs or society:So far her business life has not overlapped her social life.
  17. the period or extent of authority, popularity, approval, etc.:the life of the committee; the life of a bestseller.
  18. a prison sentence covering the remaining portion of the offender's animate existence:The judge gave him life.
  19. anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life:She was his life.
  20. a person or thing that enlivens:the life of the party.
  21. effervescence or sparkle, as of wines.
  22. pungency or strong, sharp flavor, as of substances when fresh or in good condition.
  23. nature or any of the forms of nature as the model or subject of a work of art:drawn from life.
  24. Sport[Baseball.]another opportunity given to a batter to bat because of a misplay by a fielder.
  25. Games(in English pool) one of a limited number of shots allowed a player:Each pool player has three lives at the beginning of the game.
  26. Idioms as large as life, actually;
    indeed:There he stood, as large as life.Also, as big as life. 
  27. Idioms come to life:
    • to recover consciousness.
    • to become animated and vigorous:The evening passed, but somehow the party never came to life.
    • to appear lifelike:The characters of the novel came to life on the screen.
  28. Idioms for dear life, with desperate effort, energy, or speed:We ran for dear life, with the dogs at our heels.Also, for one's life. 
  29. Idioms for the life of one, as hard as one tries;
    even with the utmost effort:He can't understand it for the life of him.
  30. get a life, to improve the quality of one's social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone's behavior.
  31. Idioms not on your life, [Informal.]absolutely not;
    under no circumstances;
    by no means:Will I stand for such a thing? Not on your life!
  32. Idioms take one's life in one's hands, to risk death knowingly:We were warned that we were taking our lives in our hands by going through that swampy area.
  33. Idioms to the life, in perfect imitation;
    exactly:The portrait characterized him to the life.

adj. 
  1. for or lasting a lifetime;
    lifelong:a life membership in a club; life imprisonment.
  2. of or pertaining to animate existence:the life force; life functions.
  3. working from nature or using a living model:a life drawing; a life class.
  • bef. 900; Middle English lif(e); Old English līf; cognate with Dutch lijf, German Leib body, Old Norse līf life, body; akin to live1
    • 13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged vivacity, sprightliness, vigor, verve, activity, energy.
    • 13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inertia.
life, +n. 
  1. get a life, to improve the quality of one's social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone's behavior.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
life /laɪf/ n ( pl lives /laɪvz/)
  1. the state or quality that distinguishes living beings or organisms from dead ones and from inorganic matter, characterized chiefly by metabolism, growth, and the ability to reproduce and respond to stimuli
    Related adjective(s): animate
  2. the period between birth and death
  3. a living person or being: to save a life
  4. the time between birth and the present time
  5. the remainder or extent of one's life
  6. (as modifier): a life sentence, life membership, life subscription, life work
  7. short for life imprisonment
  8. the amount of time that something is active or functioning: the life of a battery
  9. a present condition, state, or mode of existence: my life is very dull here
  10. a biography
  11. (as modifier): a life story
  12. a characteristic state or mode of existence: town life
  13. the sum or course of human events and activities
  14. liveliness or high spirits: full of life
  15. a source of strength, animation, or vitality: he was the life of the show
  16. all living things, taken as a whole: there is no life on Mars, plant life
  17. (modifier) drawn or taken from a living model: life drawing, a life mask
  18. (in certain games) one of a number of opportunities of participation
  19. as large as life ⇒ informal real and living
  20. for the life of one ⇒ though trying desperately
  21. not on your life ⇒ informal certainly not
  22. the life and soul ⇒ informal a person regarded as the main source of merriment and liveliness: the life and soul of the party
  23. to the life ⇒ (of a copy or image) resembling the original exactly
  24. true to life ⇒ faithful to reality
Etymology: Old English līf; related to Old High German lib, Old Norse līf life, body
'True to life' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
blonding - life - living

Forum discussions with the word(s) "True to life" in the title:


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