- dear
- [[t]dɪ͟ə(r)[/t]]
♦♦♦dearer, dearest, dears1) ADJ: ADJ n You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine...
At last I am back at my dear little desk.
2) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ to n If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it.His family life was very dear to him...
This is a subject very dear to the hearts of academics up and down the country.
3) ADJ: ADJ n (feelings) You use dear in expressions such as `my dear fellow', `dear girl', or `my dear Richard' when you are addressing someone whom you know and are fond of. You can also use expressions like this in a rude way to indicate that you think you are superior to the person you are addressing. [BRIT]Of course, Toby, my dear fellow, of course...
Take as long as you like, dear boy.
4) ADJ: ADJ n Dear is written at the beginning of a letter, followed by the name or title of the person you are writing to.Dear Peter, I have been thinking about you so much during the past few days...
5) CONVENTION In British English, you begin formal letters with `Dear sir' or `Dear madam'. In American English, you begin them with `Sir' or `Madam'. [WRITTEN]`Dear sir,' she began.
6) N-VOC (feelings) You can call someone dear as a sign of affection.You're a lot like me, dear...
`Good night, my dears,' she called to us as we closed her door behind us.
7) EXCLAM (feelings) You can use dear in expressions such as `oh dear', `dear me', and `dear, dear' when you are sad, disappointed, or surprised about something.`Oh dear, oh dear.' McKinnon sighed. `You, too.'...
Outside, Bruce glanced at his watch: `Dear me, nearly one o'clock.'
8) N-COUNT You can call someone a dear when you are fond of them and think that they are nice.He's such a dear.
Syn:9) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ (disapproval) If you say that something is dear, you mean that it costs a lot of money, usually more than you can afford or more than you think it should cost. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]It's getting dearer now but it used to be pretty reasonable to buy...
They're too dear.
Syn:Ant:10) PHRASE: V inflects If something that someone does costs them dear, they suffer a lot as a result of it.Such complacency is costing the company dear.
English dictionary. 2008.
