living

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 alive now: all living things * living creatures / organisms / cells * the finest living pianist 2 [onlybeforenoun] used or practised now: living languages (= those still spoken) * a living faith IDIOMS be living proof of sth / that... to show by your actions or qualities that a particular fact is true: These figures are living proof of the government's incompetence. * He is living proof that not all engineers are boring. within / in living memory at a time, or during the time, that is remembered by people still alive: the coldest winter in living memory moreatDAYLIGHTS, IMAGE noun 1 [C,usually sing.] money to buy the things that you need in life: She earns her living as a freelance journalist. * to make a good / decent / meagre living * What do you do for a living? * to scrape / scratch a living from part-time tutoring * He refuses to say exactly how he makes his living. 2 [U] a way or style of life: daily / everyday living * communal / family living * healthy / plain living * Their standard of living is very low. * The cost of living has risen sharply. * poor living conditions / standards 3 (the living) [pl.] people who are alive now: the living and the dead 4 [C] (BrE) (especially in the past) a position in the Church as a priest and the income and house that go with this SYNBENEFICE IDIOMS see LANDn.