(figurative) a course of action that is unproductive and offers no hope of improvement; "all the clues led the police into blind alleys"; "so far every road that we've been down has turned out to be a blind alley"
any one of a number of individual efforts in a common endeavor; "I am proud of my contribution to the team's success"; "they all did their share of the work"
act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity
a writing for publication especially one of a collection of writings as an article or story
an amount of money contributed; "he expected his contribution to be repaid with interest"
a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
living things collectively; "the oceans are teeming with life"
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities; "he could no longer cope with the complexities of life"
a motive for living; "pottery was his life"
a living person; "his heroism saved a life"
the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones; "there is no life on the moon"
the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living; "he hoped for a new life in Australia"; "he wanted to live his own life without interference from others"
a characteristic state or mode of living; "social life"; "city life"; "real life"
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death); "the battery had a short life"; "he lived a long and happy life"
the period between birth and the present time; "I have known him all his life"
the period from the present until death; "he appointed himself emperor for life"