living: Meaning and Definition of

liv•ing

Pronunciation: (liv'ing), [key]
— adj.
  1. having life; being alive; not dead: living persons.
  2. in actual existence or use; extant: living languages.
  3. active or thriving; vigorous; strong: a living faith.
  4. burning or glowing, as a coal.
  5. flowing freely, as water.
  6. pertaining to, suitable for, or sufficient for existence or subsistence: living conditions; a living wage.
  7. of or pertaining to living persons: within living memory.
  8. lifelike; true to life, as a picture or narrative.
  9. in its natural state and place; not uprooted, changed, etc.: living rock.
  10. very; absolute (used as an intensifier): to scare the living daylights out of someone.
—n.
  1. the act or condition of a person or thing that lives: Living is very expensive these days.
  2. the means of maintaining life; livelihood: to earn one's living.
  3. a particular manner, state, or status of life: luxurious living.
  4. living persons collectively (usually prec. by the): glad to be among the living.
  5. the benefice of a clergyman.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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