What Is the Meaning of Dating?

What is the meaning of dating?

It seems like a simple question — one that should have a straightforward answer. Yet if you ask ten different people, you'll get ten different responses. One person might say dating is the search for a life partner. Another might describe it as a way to have fun and enjoy companionship. Someone else might view it as a series of tests to find compatibility. And yet another might say they honestly have no idea — they're just "going with the flow."