What is Love?

Tonight we spoke of the heart and how it symbolizes love, not because it is an organ of feeling, but because it pumps blood throughout the body, making it a living, breathing, functioning organism. Without the heart circulating blood throughout the body it would cease to live, the body would die.
So what is love if it is the lifeblood of our existance?

I received an e-mail from my mother today, I thought of love.
I spent time with my friend Rachel,her husband & little boys, I contemplated love.
I spoke with God in prayer today, I pondered love.
I talked to an old friend at 3 o'clock in the morning, I laughed because of love.
I got a nice voicemail from my brother, again I meditated upon the meaning of love.
I was taught about Jesus Christ and his followers tonight, I reflected on love.
I looked through some old photos of my brother and his children, I mourned love.
I went off on someone I deeply care for when his actions hurt me, I lost love.
I spent time serving people I care about, I thought more of love.
I saw a friend who had tears in her eyes, I saw another facet of love.
I watched videos from my nephews birthday party, I missed little ones I love.
I set up a business to strengthen homes and families, motivated by love.
I read some things to discover who I am, I am learning self-love.
I gave a card to a friend returning to South Africa tomorrow, an expression of love.
I am unable to sleep, my mind racing through the facets of love.

What is love to you? There are so many dimensions, so many definitions, so many decisions, so many determinations, so many destinations, so many directives. What is love to you?

The world today does not know what love is.

Many manifestations of "love" in society are fallacious.
The media depictions of love are deceptive and degrading.
Even the dictionary definition of "love" leaves a great deal to be desired, qualitatively speaking:

love /lʌv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[luhv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, loved, lov·ing.
–noun 1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. (initial capital letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
–verb (used with object) 15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object) 21. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
—Verb phrase22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
—Idioms23. for love, a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one's work.
27. make love, a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.
28. no love lost, dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.
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[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE lufu, c. OFris luve, OHG luba, Goth lubō; (v.) ME lov(i)en, OE lufian; c. OFris luvia, OHG lubōn to love, L lubére (later libére) to be pleasing; akin to lief]
—Synonyms 1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.
—Antonyms 1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Certain definitions would stand on their own as merely a physical act, a word represented in communications, something fleeting like desire, chiefly tennis?

These do not encapsulate the meaning of love.

What does love mean? To you? In your life? How do you define love?