(1)(慈，喜)爱(gentle，lasting love that is not very strong but is good and kind;feeling of liking or fondness)[U;C 通常pl][N(for/toward)]：have/feel/show great(warm)～for(towards) one's children对子女怀有/感到/表示出强烈(炙热)的爱;gaze with deep～at sb 深情地凝视某人;thank sb with genuine～真挚地感谢某人;retain sb's～继续拥有某人的爱;be held in great～极受喜爱;have (an)～for a girl 爱一个姑娘;win a lady's～(s)赢得一个女士的爱;place/centre one's～s on sb 把爱给予/全部给予某人;He replaced the old boyfriend in her ～s.他博得了她的芳心，而取代了她原来的男朋友。〖同〗love，fondness，tenderness;〖反〗hate，dislike;

(2)疾病，病情(disease or diseased condition)[C](旧用法)：suffer an～of the throat/the ear 患嗓子/耳病;die of a consumptive～死于肺痨病;〖同〗 sickness，illness，disease;〖反〗 healthiness;

← af′fect¹ vt ;

→ af′fectional adj感(爱)情的;af′fection-ate adj 挚爱的，深情的;af′fectionately adv 挚爱地，深情地;

【辨异】love与affection和devotion都可表示对另一个人的“爱”、“热爱”。love表示的“爱”很广，可指各种关系的爱，也指男女之间的爱;affection表示的爱程度不如love强烈，是一种温柔的、宁静的爱;devotion表示的是强烈的爱情、忠诚，还指对事业的奉献情感。