life

noun

• The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.

  "Having experienced both, the vampire decided that he preferred (un)death to life.  He gave up on life."

• The animating principle or force that keeps an inorganic thing or concept metaphorically alive (dynamic, relevant, etc) and makes it a "living document", "living constitution", etc.
• Lifeforms, generally or collectively.

  "It's life, but not as we know it.   She discovered plant life on the planet.   The rover discovered signs of life on the alien world."

• A living individual; the fact of a particular individual being alive. (Chiefly when indicating individuals were lost (died) or saved.)

  "Many lives were lost during the war.   Her quick thinking saved many dogs' lives."

• Existence.

  "Man's life on this planet has been marked by continual conflict.   the eternal life of the soul"

• A period of time during which something has existence.
• Animation; spirit; vivacity.
• A biography.

  "His life of the founder is finished, except for the title."

• Nature, reality, and the forms that exist in it.
• An opportunity for existence.
• The life insurance industry.

  "I work in life."

• A life assured under a life assurance policy (equivalent to the policy itself for a single life contract).