Word Study
like
CIDE DICTIONARY
like, a. [OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gelīc, fr. pref. ge- + līc body, and orig. meaning, having the same body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS. gilīk, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gilīh, Icel. līkr, glīkr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D. lijk, G. leiche, Icel. līk, Sw. lik, Goth. leik. The English adverbial ending-ly is from the same adjective. Cf. Each, Such, Which.].
- Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; -- often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character. [1913 Webster]" To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted." [1913 Webster]"'T is as like you
As cherry is to cherry." [1913 Webster]"Like master, like man." [1913 Webster]"He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes." [1913 Webster] - Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent. [1913 Webster]"More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before." [1913 Webster]
- Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely. Shak. [1913 Webster]"But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices." [1913 Webster]"Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules." [1913 Webster]
- Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk. [1913 Webster]" Like is used as a suffix, converting nouns into adjectives expressing resemblance to the noun; as, manlike, like a man; childlike, like a child; godlike, like a god, etc. Such compounds are readily formed whenever convenient, and several, as crescentlike, serpentlike, hairlike, etc., are used in this book, although, in some cases, not entered in the vocabulary. Such combinations as bell-like, ball-like, etc., are hyphened." [1913 Webster]"Had like to have been my utter overthrow." [1913 Webster]"Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . . . but recollected herself in time." [1913 Webster]
like, n.
- That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy. [1913 Webster]"He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again." [1913 Webster] - A liking; a preference; inclination; -- usually in
pl. ; as, we all have likes and dislikes. [1913 Webster] - The stroke which equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side; as, to play the like. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him. [1913 Webster]" Like, as here used, is regarded by some grammarians as a preposition." [1913 Webster]"He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man." [1913 Webster]
- In a like or similar manner. Shak. [1913 Webster]"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." [1913 Webster]
- Likely; probably. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- To suit; to please; to be agreeable to. [1913 Webster]"Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there." [1913 Webster]"I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature." [1913 Webster]
- To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy. [1913 Webster]"He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving." [1913 Webster]
- To liken; to compare. [1913 Webster]"Like me to the peasant boys of France." [1913 Webster]
like, v. i.
- To be pleased; to choose. [1913 Webster]"He may either go or stay, as he best likes." [1913 Webster]
- To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition). [1913 Webster]"You like well, and bear your years very well." [1913 Webster]
- To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly; as, he liked to have been too late. Cf. Had like, under Like,
a. [1913 Webster]"He probably got his death, as he liked to have done two years ago, by viewing the troops for the expedition from the wall of Kensington Garden." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
like, adj., prep., adv., conj., & n.
--adj. (often governing a noun as if a transitive participle such as resembling) (more like, most like)
1 a having some or all of the qualities of another or each other or an original; alike (in like manner; as like as two peas; is very like her brother). b resembling in some way, such as; in the same class as (good writers like Dickens). c (usu. in pairs correlatively) as one is so will the other be (like mother, like daughter).
2 characteristic of (it is not like them to be late).
3 in a suitable state or mood for (doing or having something) (felt like working; felt like a cup of tea).
--prep. in the manner of; to the same degree as (drink like a fish; sell like hot cakes; acted like an idiot).
--adv.
1 archaic likely (they will come, like enough).
2 archaic in the same manner (foll. by as: sang like as a nightingale).
3 sl. so to speak (did a quick getaway, like; as I said, like, I'm no Shakespeare).
4 colloq. likely, probably (as like as not).
--conj. colloq. disp.
1 as (cannot do it like you do).
2 as if (ate like they were starving).
--n.
1 a counterpart; an equal; a similar person or thing (shall not see its like again; compare like with like).
2 (prec. by the) a thing or things of the same kind (will never do the like again).
--adj. (often governing a noun as if a transitive participle such as resembling) (more like, most like)
1 a having some or all of the qualities of another or each other or an original; alike (in like manner; as like as two peas; is very like her brother). b resembling in some way, such as; in the same class as (good writers like Dickens). c (usu. in pairs correlatively) as one is so will the other be (like mother, like daughter).
2 characteristic of (it is not like them to be late).
3 in a suitable state or mood for (doing or having something) (felt like working; felt like a cup of tea).
--prep. in the manner of; to the same degree as (drink like a fish; sell like hot cakes; acted like an idiot).
--adv.
1 archaic likely (they will come, like enough).
2 archaic in the same manner (foll. by as: sang like as a nightingale).
3 sl. so to speak (did a quick getaway, like; as I said, like, I'm no Shakespeare).
4 colloq. likely, probably (as like as not).
--conj. colloq. disp.
1 as (cannot do it like you do).
2 as if (ate like they were starving).
--n.
1 a counterpart; an equal; a similar person or thing (shall not see its like again; compare like with like).
2 (prec. by the) a thing or things of the same kind (will never do the like again).
Idiom
and the like and similar things; et cetera (music, painting, and the like). be nothing like (usu. with compl.) be in no way similar or comparable or adequate. like anything see ANYTHING. like (or as like) as not probably. like-minded having the same tastes, opinions, etc. like-mindedly in accordance with the same tastes etc. like-mindedness being like-minded. like so colloq. like this; in this manner. the likes of colloq. a person such as. more like it colloq. nearer what is required.
like, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 a find agreeable or enjoyable or satisfactory (like reading; like the sea; like to dance). b be fond of (a person).
2 a choose to have; prefer (like my coffee black; do not like such things discussed). b wish for or be inclined to (would like a cup of tea; should like to come).
3 (usu. in interrog.; prec. by how) feel about; regard (how would you like it if it happened to you?).
--n. (in pl.) the things one likes or prefers.
--v.tr.
1 a find agreeable or enjoyable or satisfactory (like reading; like the sea; like to dance). b be fond of (a person).
2 a choose to have; prefer (like my coffee black; do not like such things discussed). b wish for or be inclined to (would like a cup of tea; should like to come).
3 (usu. in interrog.; prec. by how) feel about; regard (how would you like it if it happened to you?).
--n. (in pl.) the things one likes or prefers.
Idiom
I like that! iron. as an exclamation expressing affront. like it or not colloq. whether it is acceptable or not.
Etymology
OE lician f. Gmc
THESAURUS
like
Amor, Christian love, Eros, Platonic love, admiration, admire, adoration, adore, adulate, affection, after this fashion, agape, agnate, aim at, akin, alike, all one, all the same, allied, ally, along these lines, alter ego, analogon, analogous, analogue, aped, appreciate, approve, approve of, approximate, approximating, approximative, ardency, ardor, as, as if, as though, ask, associate, at par, at what price, attachment, au pair, bask in, be desirous of, be fond of, be partial to, be pleased with, bodily love, brother, brotherly love, burn with love, by what mode, by what name, care for, caritas, charity, choose, close, close copy, close match, close to, coequal, coextensive, cognate, commensurate, companion, comparable, compeer, complement, comprehend, congenator, congener, conjugal love, consimilar, consonant, consubstantial, coordinate, copied, correlate, correlative, correspondent, corresponding, correspondingly, counterfeit, counterpart, delight in, derive pleasure from, desiderate, desire, devotion, devour, dig, disposed to, ditto, dote on, dote upon, drawn, duplicate, eat up, either, elect, endorse, enjoy, equal, equal to, equalized, equipollent, equivalent, ersatz, esteem, even, even stephen, exactly alike, faithful love, fake, fancy, favor, favoring, feast on, fellow, fervor, fifty-fifty, flame, following, fondness, for example, for instance, freak out on, free love, free-lovism, get high on, gloat over, go, go for, groove on, half-and-half, have designs on, have eyes for, have it bad, heart, hero worship, homogeneous, homologous, homoousian, how, identic, identical, identically, idolatry, idolism, idolization, image, imitated, imitation, in kind, in like manner, in other words, in such wise, in that way, in this way, in what way, indistinguishable, indulge in, just alike, kindred spirit, knotted, lasciviousness, level, libido, like that, like this, likeness, likes, likewise, liking, love, lovemaking, lust, lust after, luxuriate in, married love, match, mate, mimicked, mind, mock, namely, near, near duplicate, nearly reproduced, nip and tuck, not unlike, obverse, of that ilk, on a footing, on a level, on a par, on even ground, one, opposite number, par, parallel, partiality, passion, peer, pendant, phony, physical love, picture, please, popular regard, popularity, predilection, prefer, preference, proportionate, proximate, quits, reciprocal, regard, rejoice in, relatable, related, relish, resembling, respect, revel in, riot in, rival, same, savor, second self, select, selfsame, sentiment, sex, sexual love, shine, similar, similarly, similitude, simulacrum, simulated, sister, smack the lips, smacking of, so, something like, soul mate, spiritual love, square, stalemated, such, suchlike, suggestive of, swim in, synthetic, take pleasure in, take to, tally, taste, tender feeling, tender passion, the like of, the likes of, thus, thus and so, tied, to wit, truelove, twin, understand, undifferenced, undifferent, undifferentiated, uniform, uniform with, uxoriousness, wallow in, want, weakness, wish, wish to goodness, wish very much, without difference, without distinction, worship, would fain do, yearningROGET THESAURUS
like
Relation
N relation, bearing, reference, connection, concern, cognation, correlation, analogy, similarity, affinity, homology, alliance, homogeneity, association, approximation, filiation, interest, relevancy, dependency, relationship, relative position, comparison, ratio, proportion, link, tie, bond of union, relative, correlative, cognate, relating to, relative to, in relation with, referable or referrible to, belonging to, appurtenant to, in common with, related, connected, implicated, associated, affiliated, allied to, en rapport, in touch with, approximative, approximating, proportional, proportionate, proportionable, allusive, comparable, in the same category, like, relevant, applicable, equiparant, relatively, pertinently, thereof, as to, as for, as respects, as regards, about, concerning, anent, relating to, as relates to, with relation, with reference to, with respect to, with regard to, in respect of, while speaking of, a propos of, in connection with, by the way, by the by, whereas, for as much as, in as much as, in point of, as far as, on the part of, on the score of, quoad hoc, pro re nata, under the head of, of, in the matter of, in re, thereby hangs a tale.Similarity
N similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance, affinity, approximation, parallelism, agreement, analogy, analogicalness, correspondence, homoiousia, parity, connaturalness, connaturality, brotherhood, family likeness, alliteration, rhyme, pun, repetition, sameness, uniformity, isogamy, analogue, the like, match, pendant, fellow companion, pair, mate, twin, double, counterpart, brother, sister, one's second self, alter ego, chip of the old block, par nobile fratrum, Arcades ambo, birds of a feather, et hoc genus omne, gens de meme famille, parallel, simile, type, image, photograph, close resemblance, striking resemblance, speaking resemblance, faithful likeness, faithful resemblance, similar, resembling, like, alike, twin, analogous, analogical, parallel, of a piece, such as, so, homoiousian, connatural, congener, allied to, akin to, approximate, much the same, near, close, something like, sort of, in the ballpark, such like, a show of, mock, pseudo, simulating, representing, exact, lifelike, faithful, true to nature, true to life, the very image, the very picture of, for all the world like, comme deux gouttes d'eau, as like as two peas in a pod, as like as it can stare, instar omnium, cast in the same mold, ridiculously like, as if, so to speak, as it were, as if it were, quasi, just as, veluti in speculum, et sic de similibus, tel maitre tel valet, tel pere tel fils, like master, like servant, like father, like son, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, a chip off the old block.Pleasure
VB be pleased, feel pleasure, experience pleasure, joy, enjoy oneself, hug oneself, be in clover &c, be in elysium, tread on enchanted ground, fall into raptures, go into raptures, feel at home, breathe freely, bask in the sunshine, be pleased with, receive pleasure, derive pleasure, from, take pleasure, in, delight in, rejoice in, indulge in, luxuriate in, gloat over, enjoy, relish, like, love, take to, take a fancy to, have a liking for, enter into the spirit of, take in good part, treat oneself to, solace oneself with.Desire
VB desire, wish, wish for, be desirous, have a longing, hope, care for, affect, like, list, take to, cling to, take a fancy to, fancy, prefer, have an eye, have a mind to, find it in one's heart, have a fancy for, set one's eyes upon, cast a sheep's eye upon, look sweet upon, take into one's head, have at heart, be bent upon, set one's cap at, set one's heart upon, set one's mind upon, covet, want, miss, need, feel the want of, would fain have, would fain do, would be glad of, be hungry, have a good appetite, play a good knife and fork, hunger after, thirst after, crave after, lust after, itch after, hanker after, run mad after, raven for, die for, burn to, desiderate, sigh for, cry for, gape for, gasp for, pine for, pant for, languish for, yearn for, long, be on thorns for, hope for, aspire after, catch at, grasp at, jump at, woo, court, solicit, fish for, spell for, whistle for, put up for, ogle, cause desire, create desire, raise desire, excite desire, provoke desire, whet the appetite, appetize, titillate, allure, attract, take one's fancy, tempt, hold out temptation, hold out allurement, tantalize, make one's mouth water, faire venir l'eau a la bouche, gratify desire.Love
VB love, like, affect, fancy, care for, take an interest in, be partial to, sympathize with, affection, be in love with, have a love, for, entertain a love, for, harbor cherish a love, for, regard, revere, take to, bear love to, be wedded to, set one's affections on, make much of, feast one's eyes on, hold dear, prize, hug, cling to, cherish, pet, burn, adore, idolize, love to distraction, aimer eperdument, dote on, dote upon, take a fancy to, look sweet upon, become enamored, fall in love with, lose one's heart, desire, excite love, win the heart, gain the heart, win the affections, gain the affections, secure the love, engage the affections, take the fancy of have a place in the heart, wind round the heart, attract, attach, endear, charm, fascinate, captivate, bewitch, seduce, enamor, enrapture, turn the head, get into favor, ingratiate oneself, insinuate oneself, worm oneself, propitiate, curry favor with, pay one's court to, faire l'aimable, set one's cap at, flirt.Approbation
VB approve, approbate, think good, think much of, think well of, think highly of, esteem, value, prize, set great store by, set great store on, do justice to, appreciate, honor, hold in esteem, look up to, admire, like, be in favor of, wish Godspeed, hail, hail with satisfaction, stand up for, stick up for, uphold, hold up, countenance, sanction, clap on the back, pat on the back, keep in countenance, indorse, give credit, recommend, mark with a white mark, mark with a stone, commend, belaud, praise, laud, compliment, pay a tribute, bepraise, clap the hands, applaud, cheer, acclamate, encore, panegyrize, eulogize, cry up, proner, puff, extol, extol to the skies, magnify, glorify, exalt, swell, make much of, flatter, bless, give a blessing to, have a good word for, say a good word for, speak well of, speak highly of, speak in high terms of, sing the praises of, sound the praises of, chaunt the praises of, resound the praises of, sing praises to, cheer to the echo, applaud to the echo, applaud to the very echo, cheer to the very echo, redound to the honor, redound to the praise, redound to the credit of, do credit to, deserve praise, recommend itself, pass muster, be praised, receive honorable mention, be in favor with, be in high favor with, ring with the praises of, win golden opinions, gain credit, find favor with, stand well in the opinion of, laudari a laudato viro.Savoriness
VB be savory, tickle the palate, tickle the appetite, flatter the palate, render palatable, relish, like, smack the lips.Representation
N representation, representment, imitation, illustration, delineation, depictment, imagery, portraiture, iconography, design, designing, art, fine arts, painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, cinematography, radiography, autoradiography, fluorography, sciagraphy, personation, personification, impersonation, drama, picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, X-ray photo, movie film, movie, tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV, copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, represent, representing, representative, illustrative, represented, imitative, figurative, iconic, like, graphic, cinquecento quattrocento, trecento.For further exploring for "like" in Webster Dictionary Online
