passionate

pas‧sion‧ate /ˈpæʃənət, ˈpæʃənɪt/ BrE AmE adjective
1. showing or involving very strong feelings of sexual love:
He had a brief but passionate love affair with an older woman.
a very passionate young man
a passionate lover
a passionate kiss
2. someone who has a passionate belief believes something very strongly:
a passionate supporter of women’s rights
He had a passionate belief in justice.
3. if you are passionate about something, you like it a lot:
She developed a passionate interest in wild flowers.
passionate about
I’ve always been passionate about football.
—passionately adverb:
He kissed her passionately.
Peter is passionately involved in environmental issues.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ a passionate belief/conviction We had a passionate belief in what we were doing.
▪ a passionate commitment to something There was no doubt about his passionate commitment to peace.
▪ a passionate concern for something She developed a passionate concern for human rights.
▪ a passionate supporter of somebody/something President Johnson was a passionate supporter of the space programme.
▪ a passionate defender of something The actress is a vocal and passionate defender of women's rights.
▪ a passionate speech Senator McCarthy delivered a powerful and passionate speech.
▪ a passionate plea She made a passionate plea for tolerance.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

passionate

pas·sion·ate [ˈpæʃənət] [ˈpæʃənət] adjective
1. having or showing strong feelings of sexual love or of anger, etc

• to have a passionate nature

2. having or showing strong feelings of enthusiasm for sth or belief in sth
• a passionate interest in music
• a passionate defender of civil liberties
Derived Word: passionately
Word Origin:
[passionate passionately] late Middle English (also in the senses ‘easily moved to passion’ and ‘enraged’): from medieval Latin passionatus ‘full of passion’, from passio (chiefly a term in Christian theology), from Latin pati ‘suffer’.
Example Bank:
• He makes no secret of his passionate commitment to the nationalist cause.
• His guitar playing was passionate and extremely skilful.
• She is passionate about her work.
• She was a passionate defender of civil liberties.
• a passionate kiss/embrace/affair/lover
• a passionate speech/sincerity/attachment/belief/commitment/conviction
• a passionate supporter/defender of sth

• passionate love/feelings

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

passionate / ˈpæʃ. ə n.ət / / -ə.nɪt / adjective

B2 having very strong feelings or emotions:

a passionate speech

a passionate kiss/embrace

The Italians are said to be the most passionate people in Europe.

The child's mother made a passionate plea for help.

Joe is passionate about baseball (= he likes it very much) .

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

passionate

[pæ̱ʃənət]
1) ADJ-GRADED A passionate person has very strong feelings about something or a strong belief in something.
  ...his passionate commitment to peace...
  I'm a passionate believer in public art...
  He is very passionate about the project.
  ...a passionate and combative speech.
  Syn:
  fervent
  Derived words:
  passionately ADV-GRADED I am passionately opposed to the death penalty.
2) ADJ-GRADED A passionate person has strong romantic or sexual feelings and expresses them in their behaviour.
  ...a beautiful, passionate woman of twenty-six.
  ...the story of a passionate love affair...
  We were both very tender and passionate towards one another.
  Ant:
  passionless
  Derived words:
  passionately ADV-GRADED He was passionately in love with her... She kissed him passionately.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

passionate

pas·sion·ate /ˈpæʃənət/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs
• a passionate coach/performance
• He gave a passionate speech on tax reform.
• She has a passionate interest in animal rights.
• She is passionate about art/music/sports.
• We were moved by his passionate plea for forgiveness.
2 : expressing or relating to strong sexual or romantic feelings
• a long, passionate kiss
• a passionate love affair
- pas·sion·ate·ly adv
• She spoke passionately about animal rights.
• They kissed passionately.
• They were passionately opposed to the war.