Eros
noun /ˈɪərɒs/ — The passionate, erotic love — desire in its most intense form.
Definition
In classical philosophy and psychology, the force of love and desire — particularly sexual and romantic attraction in its most intense, urgent form. The root of 'erotic' and the name of the winged god of love in Greek mythology.
Beyond the definition
Ancient philosophers distinguished multiple kinds of love — eros, philia, agape, storge. Eros is the first, the most urgent: the love that arrives as electricity, that bypasses reason, that has been causing both ecstasy and disaster since the beginning of recorded thought.
Origin & history
Greek 'eros' — love, desire. Named after the god Eros (son of Aphrodite), known to the Romans as Cupid. Freud used the term to describe the life instinct — the drive toward connection, creation, and vitality.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
What began as eros deepened over years into something quieter and more durable.
Plato argued that eros, properly directed, could lead the soul toward truth.
The eros between them was immediate and overwhelming — and neither was prepared for what followed.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Eros” when the meaning fits your context: In classical philosophy and psychology, the force of love and desire — particularly sexual and romantic attraction in its most intense, urgent form. The root of 'erotic' and the name of the winged god of love in Greek mythology.
Synonyms
erotic love, passionate desire, romantic love
Antonyms
agape, indifference
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Eros" mean?
Eros is noun meaning: The passionate, erotic love — desire in its most intense form.. In classical philosophy and psychology, the force of love and desire — particularly sexual and romantic attraction in its most intense, urgent form. The root of 'erotic' and the name of the winged god of love in Greek mythology.
Where does the word "Eros" come from?
Greek 'eros' — love, desire. Named after the god Eros (son of Aphrodite), known to the Romans as Cupid. Freud used the term to describe the life instinct — the drive toward connection, creation, and vitality.