Definition

1. Noun:

   • A novel or story dealing with idealized love or adventure: A work of fiction that focuses on romantic relationships, often with idealized characters and settings removed from ordinary life.
   • A love affair or romantic relationship: A relationship characterized by excitement, passion, and emotional involvement.
   • A quality of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life: A feeling or atmosphere associated with adventure, chivalry, or idealized love.
   • (Capitalized: Romance) The group of languages developed from Latin: The languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, that evolved from Vulgar Latin.

2. Verb:

   • To court or woo someone; to behave amorously: To engage in affectionate or flirtatious behavior intended to attract a romantic partner.
   • To indulge in fanciful or exaggerated stories: To tell tales that are idealized, imaginative, or not strictly true.
   • To have a love affair with someone.

3. Adjective (Capitalized: Romance):

   • Relating to the Romance languages: Pertaining to the languages derived from Latin.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She enjoys reading historical romances set in the 19th century.
  • Their whirlwind romance began during a trip to Paris.
  • The old castle added a touch of romance to the landscape.
  • French and Spanish are both Romance languages.

• Verb:

  • He spent the evening romancing his date with poetry and flowers.
  • The old sailor would romance about his adventures at sea.
  • It was rumored he was romancing a famous actress.

• Adjective:

  • The linguistics professor specialized in Romance philology.

Advanced Usage

• "A whirlwind romance": A very intense and fast-moving romantic relationship.

  • They had a whirlwind romance and were married within three months.

• "To rekindle the romance": To revive the feelings of love and excitement in a long-term relationship.

  • They went on a second honeymoon to rekindle the romance in their marriage.

Variants and Related Words

• Romantic (adj): Characterized by or suggestive of an idealized view of reality, love, or adventure.

  • She has a very romantic view of life in the countryside.

• Romanticize (verb): To make something seem more appealing or idealized than it really is.

  • It's easy to romanticize the past and forget its hardships.

Synonyms

• Love affair (noun): A romantic relationship, especially a secret or intense one.
• Courtship (noun): The period during which a couple develops a romantic relationship.
• Woo (verb): To seek the favor, affection, or love of someone.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Romance" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal uses are typically transitive or intransitive as shown above.)

Related Idioms

• A romance of the rails: An idealized, nostalgic view of train travel.

  • His stories were a romance of the rails, full of adventure and grand stations.

• Office romance: A romantic relationship between people who work together.

  • The company has a policy discouraging office romances.

Adjective

1. relating to languages derived from Latin
   • Romance languages

Noun

1. a novel dealing with idealized events remote from everyday life
2. a story dealing with love
3. the group of languages derived from Latin
4. an exciting and mysterious quality (as of a heroic time or adventure)
5. a relationship between two lovers

Verb

1. tell romantic or exaggerated lies
   • This author romanced his trip to an exotic country
2. talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
   • The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries
   • My husband never flirts with other women
3. have a love affair with
4. make amorous advances towards
   • John is courting Mary