English

Verb

make love ‎(third-person singular simple present makes love, present participle making love, simple past and past participle made love)

1. (now archaic) To make amorous approaches to; to woo, romance, court. [from 16th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VI.11:

     So from thenceforth, when love he to her made, / With better tearmes she did him entertaine […].

   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma:

     scarcely had she begun, scarcely had they passed the sweep-gate and joined the other carriage, than she found her subject cut up – her hand seized – her attention demanded, and Mr. Elton actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious opportunity, declaring sentiments which must already be well known [...].

   • 1910, Saki, ‘The Baker's Dozen’, Reginald in Russia:

     After all, the chief charm is in the fact of being made love to. You are making love to me, aren't you?

   • 1941, W Somerset Maugham, Up at the Villa, Vintage 2004, p. 24:

     ‘Ever since I was sixteen men have been making love to me.’

   • 1946, It's a Wonderful Life:

     He's making violent love to me, Mother.

2. (euphemistic) To engage in sexual intercourse. [from 20th c.]
   • 1974, Barry White, Can't Get Enough of Your Love

     I've heard people say that

     Too much of anything is not good for you, baby

     Oh no

     But I don't know about that

     There's many times that we've loved

     We've shared love and made love

     It doesn't seem to me like it's enough

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:sexual intercourse

Translations