loved one

English

Noun

loved one (plural loved ones)

1. A very close friend or family member for whom a person has feelings of endearment.
   • 1904, Jack London The Sea Wolf, ch. 30,

     I felt myself the protector of my loved one. She leaned against me.

2. (euphemistic) A recently deceased person.
   • 2003 March 29, Jessica Watson, "Laying to rest the days of his and hearse," Guardian (UK) (retrieved 23 June 2008):

     Whereas once the main option was a traditional black hearse service, these days a "green funeral" with a cardboard coffin is just one of the alternative ways to send off a loved one.

Usage notes

• Often used in the plural to refer to the family of a deceased person.

Translations

very close friend or family member

• French: proche (fr) m
• Hebrew: אהוב (he) (ahúv) m, אהובה (he) (ahuvá) f
• Norwegian: kjære (no)
• Russian: любимый (ru) (ljubímyj) m , любимая (ru) (ljubímaja) f , близкий (ru) (blízkij) m , близкая (ru) (blízkaja) , родной (ru) (rodnój) m , родная (ru) (rodnája) f 

• Scottish Gaelic: luaidh (gd) m and f
• Spanish: ser amado (es)

a recently deceased person

• Hebrew: אהוב (he) (ahúv) m, אהובה (he) (ahuvá) f