LOVER

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does lover mean? 

• LOVER (noun)
  The noun LOVER has 3 senses:

1. a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

2. an ardent follower and admirer

3. a significant other to whom you are not related by marriage

  Familiarity information: LOVER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LOVER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who loves someone or is loved by someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("lover" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lover"):

beloved; dear; dearest; honey; love (a beloved person; used as terms of endearment)

steady; sweetheart; sweetie; truelove (a person loved by another person)

squeeze ((slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend)

soul mate (someone for whom you have a deep affinity)

Romeo (an ardent male lover)

fondler; petter (a lover who gently fondles and caresses the loved one)

necker (a lover who necks)

kisser; osculator (someone who kisses)

inamorata (a woman with whom you are in love or have an intimate relationship)

idoliser; idolizer (a lover blind with admiration and devotion)

girl; girlfriend; lady friend (a girl or young woman with whom a man is romantically involved)

darling; dearie; deary; ducky; favorite; favourite; pet (a special loved one)

beau; boyfriend; fellow; swain (a man who is the lover of a man or woman)

betrothed (the person to whom you are engaged)

admirer; adorer (someone who admires a young woman)

inamorato (a man with whom you are in love or have an intimate relationship)

Derivation:

love (have a great affection or liking for)

love (be enamored or in love with)

love (get pleasure from)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An ardent follower and admirer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

buff; devotee; fan; lover

Hypernyms ("lover" is a kind of...):

follower (a person who accepts the leadership of another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lover"):

aerophile (a lover of aviation)

aficionado (a serious devotee of some particular music genre or musical performer)

amorist (one dedicated to love and lovemaking especially one who writes about love)

bacchanal; bacchant (a drunken reveller; a devotee of Bacchus)

groupie (an enthusiastic young fan (especially a young woman who follows rock groups around))

metalhead (a fan of heavy metal music)

Holonyms ("lover" is a member of...):

followers; following (a group of followers or enthusiasts)

Derivation:

love (have a great affection or liking for)

love (get pleasure from)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A significant other to whom you are not related by marriage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("lover" is a kind of...):

domestic partner; significant other; spousal equivalent; spouse equivalent (a person (not necessarily a spouse) with whom you cohabit and share a long-term sexual relationship)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lover"):

man (a male person who plays a significant role (husband or lover or boyfriend) in the life of a particular woman)

fancy woman; kept woman; mistress (an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man)

fancy man; paramour (a woman's lover)

Derivation:

love (have sexual intercourse with)

 Context examples 

“Has Agnes any—” I was thinking aloud, rather than speaking. “Well? Hey? Any what?” said my aunt, sharply. “Any lover,” said I.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She hated having visitors in the house while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

To which he smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied:—He is her lover, her fiancé.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A lover evidently, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must feel to you?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There are plenty to love you, so try to be satisfied with Father and Mother, sisters and brothers, friends and babies, till the best lover of all comes to give you your reward.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She could but refuse me, and better be a repulsed lover than an accepted brother.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Thorpes spent the last evening of Catherine's stay in Pulteney Street, and nothing passed between the lovers to excite her uneasiness, or make her quit them in apprehension.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

‘Journeys end in lovers’ meetings,’ as the old play says.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Of all ghosts the ghosts of our old lovers are the worst.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Journeys end with lovers’ meetings. What brings you here?”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)