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dear

'diә10 senses · 63 ms
Level B1高考中考Oxford 3000
local copy0 msLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0Wiktionary contributors
adj/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    High in price; expensive.IrelandUK

    • The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.
    • This water is sold for 50 cents per ton, which is not dear under the circumstances.
  2. 2

    Loved; lovable.

    • "Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]
    • "We shall have to put up with whitebait. And, of course, a dear little chicken with peas and roast potatoes."
  3. 3

    Lovely; kind.

    • "I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that!"
  4. 4

    Loving, affectionate, heartfelt

    • Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.
  5. 5

    Precious to or greatly valued by someone.

    • The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!
  6. 6

    A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.

    • Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays:[…].
    • Dearest Joseph/son:...
  7. 7

    A formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.

    • My dear friend, I feel better as soon as you come sit beside my sickbed!
  8. 8

    An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior or someone one dislikes.

    • My dear man, you ought to think twice about who you're trying to blackmail.
  9. 9

    Noble.obsolete

noun/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    A very kind, loving person.

    • My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.
  2. 2

    A beloved person.

  3. 3

    An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife.

    • Pass me the salt, would you dear?
  4. 4

    An elderly person, especially a woman.

verb/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    To endear.obsolete

    • Nor should a Sonne his Sire loue for reward, But for he is his Sire, in nature dear’d.
    • I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were; And the ebbed man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked.
adv/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    Dearly; at a high price.

    • If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
intj/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval.

    • Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?
adj/dɪə//dɪɹ//diə/
  1. 1

    Severe, or severely affected; sore.

  2. 2

    Fierce.obsolete

    • The Christens found the heathens dear, as the lion doth the bear.

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