What is love? Merriam Webster defines love as "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." But what does that even mean? I don't really care for this definition, so I set out to find a new way to describe it. It seems that everyone has a different definition of this word. I asked people of all different ages the question, "What Is Love?" and the responses were unbelievable. I grouped the responses by age categories, and what I found was astounding. Love can have so many meanings, and this can especially be seen with age.

What Is Love?

Age 0-12

"Mommy!"

"When I miss you this much (holds out her arms as wide as she can)"

"giving hugs, kisses and if your mom says to tickle, then you tickle."

"Happiness."

"From the heart

"I don't know."

Teens

"Baby don't hurt don't hurt me no more."

"The widening and sparking of the eyes as you hear the name of the one you loveIt’s, the spike of your heartbeat, racing. It’s the exciting yet nervous feeling that rolls down your spine and trickles from your head to your toes as they walk into the room. Love is the feeling that you, they, the world around you, and life itself is untouchable, impenetrable, infinite when they hold you. It’s the lump in your throat that you get when you’re saying goodbye, watching them turn slowly and walk away. And the tears that slide down your rosey cheeks as they turn the corner and are gone for the night. Love is the instantaneous change from going to feeling of pure joy and graciousness to the unsettling thought that knowing even the sun sets in paradise. But love is also the relief of knowing that no matter what may happen you have a shoulder to lean on."

"A feeling between two people... kinda like ride or die."

"Being with a person, your best friend, who understands you too your core"

"Waking up on a Sunday morning to the smell of pancakes and spending the whole day in your jammies cuddled up with family watching movies."

"Contagious"

"Vulnerability"

"The ultimate act of bravery. It's putting your heart on the line knowing that once you give into love, it can make or break you. Love can build you up to your ultimate potential and give you a bird's eye view of the world below. And once you're there you have to trust that you'll continue to fly, because there is a chance you'll fall. Love is a breath of fresh air that once you start breathing it, a taste of anything else and you'll choke from a lack of oxygen. Love is a level of trust that is so great that the price has to be high and from there it's determining if you paid for the best quality or something shiny that wasn't made to last. But despite the fact that love can bring you from the very top to rock bottom, and despite the fact that it's those you love that can hurt you the most, love is worth the risk every time. Love is the greatest feeling in the world and it's something to live for. And the truly beautiful things about it is that you can find it anywhere, it comes in so many shapes and forms, and it's never truly gone.You can see it in the eyes of couples from young to old, or feel it in the warm embrace of family. You can share it with your closest friends or witness it reborn in the smile of a child or the wagging of an animal's tail. Love, in its truest and most real form, is a light at the end of a dark tunnel or a hand stretched out waiting for you to take hold. When the world knocks you down and makes you feel isolated and cold, love is healing and you never have to look too far to find it."

"Giving more than you would expect to be given"

"Understanding and growth. Love is safety and comfort. Love is friendship. Love is never being alone. Love is loyalty. Love is patience."

"When you can talk to someone for hours and never get bored. It's the person you feel so comfortable with that you can just be yourself without feeling judged. Love is loving someone for who they are."

"Embracing and caring for people without expecting anything in return"

"Unconditional. It strengthens through the good and bad. It is a passion to care for someone and be close to them."

"Caring so much that you are willing to make sacrifices in order to better or benefit the other person without expecting anything in return."

20's

"Accepting every flaw, differing opinion, and quirk about someone whether they give you the same love or not. It's being able to care for someone with the full understanding you might go through a lot of pain but you do it anyway."

"Putting someone else before you."

"Letting them choose the restaurant for dinner."

"Universal."

"Sacrifice."

"Unconditional forgiveness"

"Fearlessly valuing imperfections."

"Seeing someone butt ass naked, non-coherent on the floor at 2 am but will laugh with them about it in the morning."

"Acceptance. Accepting differences in each other and in general."

"Dedicating your life to the service of other people."

"Trusting your partner and knowing they are there for you and you are there for them."

"When you see an object or a person and all you can do is smile."

"Worthy of so much more than a sentence, but it's being happy to give some of your time to someone you care about, sticking by their side even when it's difficult or provides no benefit to you, and celebrating sincerely with them when things are good, because their happiness brings you joy."

"Filling up your S/O's vehicle with gas in the cold!"

"A choice. It's when all the butterflies and fuzzy feeling go away and you see a person for who they truly are and then choose to be apart of their life despite the imperfections."

"Jesus."

"Letting the other person eat your last French fry."

"Having pizza rolls and beer ready for dinner."

"Dedication, respect and passion."

"Guns and ammo."

"How excited your dog gets when you get home."

"A mental disorder."

"Putting others' needs before yourself."

"Cats."

"Ever-changing."

"Comfort."

"Trust and honesty."

"Always giving 100%"

30's

"Looking at someone and thinking, I accept your flaws, I love your quirks, and I would like to share my life with you."

"Putting someone else's needs/wants before your own."

"Being willing to be wrong. Owning imperfections. Working to be better. Forgiving. Respecting. Knowing."

"The truth. Everything is easier with it. There's a great blues song with a line that goes "If you ain't got love, but you tell yourself you got something, well you ain't got nothin' but a hard time." That's the truth."

"Commitment and trust."

"Respect, and love for your partner as themselves...not who you'd have them be."

40's

"Unconditional."

"Unconditional care, forgiveness, and selfless care for loved ones."

"Remembering that while everyday with your love may not always feel like a honeymoon; it is the honeymoon that promises everyday is a new day to treasure while you have them. Always saying and meaning I love you...kisses good night and a prayer for another day with your love. It's little moments that feel like the early days of falling in love. Watch for those treasures!"

"Putting that other person, or people, before yourself. Putting another's happiness above your own. Love is family. Love is God. Love is happiness and sorrow, and getting through everything together. Good and bad."

"A feeling. Love grows with time and experiences with another. Love is sometimes putting your own personal wants aside to fulfill the one you loves wants and needs. Love is caring and forgiving. One can love another person, dog, cat, child. I would say love is an attachment to another aspect of your life, whatever you hold dear to your heart."

"Who we are/where we came from/where we will go to when we die and what we get to choose to be while alive."

"Honesty and respect."

"Commitment."

50's

"Patience."

"Through thick and thin."

"75 bucks on the corner of Roosevelt and Halsted."

"The people in your life who are there for you no matter what. And you in turn are there for them. It is family and friends."

"God sending his only son, Jesus Christ, the physical part of Him, to Earth. For all who believe in him, and follow his ways, may be a part of His kingdom after our life on Earth. Born to die, so all may live, THAT is the ultimate love."

"Forgiving."

"Appreciating everything and everyone around you."

"When my son looks at me and says "I love you to the moon and back - your the best mom" followed by a big hug and kiss on the cheek."

"Simple...love is everything."

"If you have to describe it....is it really love? It is every emotion that every existed...it is a process...it is a tear, it is a smile. It is knowing that that you are the best person you can be as much of the time you can be and those around you reciprocate. From the movie Moulin Rouge.."The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

60's

"Family."

"Giving and forgiving."

"Family, which of course includes my dogs."

"Giving everything, 100%, and expecting nothing in return."