What (who) is dear - definition
dear
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
DEAR; Dear (disambiguation); Dears; Dear (album); Dear (song)
(dearer, dearest, dears)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine...
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it.
This is a subject very dear to the hearts of academics up and down the country.
ADJ: v-link ADJ to n
3.
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...
ADJ: ADJ n [feelings]
4.
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...
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
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.
CONVENTION
6.
You can call someone dear as a sign of affection.
You're a lot like me, dear...
N-VOC [feelings]
7.
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.'
EXCLAM [feelings]
8.
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)
CDs here are much dearer than in the States...
= expensive
? cheap
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ [disapproval]
9.
If something that someone does costs them dear, they suffer a lot as a result of it.
Such complacency is costing the company dear.
PHRASE: V inflects
Dear
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
DEAR; Dear (disambiguation); Dears; Dear (album); Dear (song)
·adv Dearly; at a high price.
II. Dear ·noun A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
III. Dear ·vt To Endear.
IV. Dear ·superl Of agreeable things and interests.
V. Dear ·superl Of disagreeable things and antipathies.
VI. Dear ·superl Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.
VII. Dear ·superl Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
VIII. Dear ·superl Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year.
IX. Dear ·superl Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention.
dear
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
DEAR; Dear (disambiguation); Dears; Dear (album); Dear (song)
adj.
1) (cannot stand alone) dear to (this project is dear to my heart)
2) (misc.) to hold smb. dear
Pronunciation examples for dear
1. Dear, oh, dear, oh, dear.
Hogfather (2006)
2. Oh, dear. Dear, dear man.
The Kings Speech (2010)
3. Mary, my dear Mary.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
4. Oh, dear, oh, dear!
Hogfather (2006)
5. ♪ dear -- ♪
Eric Roberson Live Performance _ Talks at Google
Examples of use of dear
1. Not last week she wasn‘t. ___________________________________________ Dear, dear, dear Tony...
2. "Dear journalists, reporters, dear global audience!
3. Prior run out 37 (England 78-4) Dear oh dear oh dear.
4. "Poor Tim!" Second set÷ Nieminen leads Henman× 6–3, 3–3 Dear oh dear oh dear.
5. Prior run out 37 (England 78–4) Dear oh dear oh dear.