Live a.
 1. Having life; alive; living; not dead.
    If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it.   --Ex. xxi. 35.
 2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers. “ The live ether.”
 3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator.
 4. Vivid; bright. “ The live carnation.”
 5. Engin. Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe; live steam.
 Live birth, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. --Dunglison.
 Live box, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. --P. H. Gosse.
 Live feathers, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic.
 Live gang. Sawing See under Gang.
 Live grass Bot., a grass of the genus Eragrostis.
 Live load Engin., a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof. Live oak Bot., a species of oak (Quercus virens), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the Quercus chrysolepis and some other species are also called live oaks.
 Live ring Engin., a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns.
 Live steam , steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from exhaust steam.
 Live stock, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm.  whole body.
 live wire (a) Elec.  a wire connected to a power source, having a voltage potential; -- used esp. of a power line with a high potential relative to ground, capable of harming a person who touches it. (b) (Fig.)  a person who is unusually active, alert, or aggressive.