dear
♦ dear /d'ɪər/ (dearer dearest dears)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine...
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ to n
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.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
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...
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]
You can call someone dear as a sign of affection.
You're a lot like me, dear...
7 [EXCLAM]
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.'
8 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
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
9 [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.
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine...
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ to n
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.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
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...
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]
You can call someone dear as a sign of affection.
You're a lot like me, dear...
7 [EXCLAM]
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.'
8 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
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
9 [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.