dear

beloved, cherished; greatly valued: The old photographs are dear to her.
Not to be confused with:deer – hoofed ruminant mammal: The deer stood motionless in the forest.

dear¹

D0057300 (dîr)adj. dear·er, dear·est 1. a. Loved and cherished: my dearest friend.b. Greatly valued; precious: lost everything dear to them.2. Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations: Dear Lee Dawson.3. a. High-priced; expensive.b. Charging high prices.4. Earnest; ardent: "This good man was a dear lover and constant practicer of angling" (Izaak Walton).5. Obsolete Noble; worthy.6. Heartfelt: It is my dearest wish.n.1. A person who is greatly loved. Often used as a form of address.2. An endearing, lovable, or kind person: What a dear she is!adv.1. With fondness; affectionately.2. At a high cost: sold their wares dear.interj. Used as a polite exclamation, chiefly of surprise or distress: oh dear; dear me.

[Middle English dere, from Old English dēore.]

dear′ly adv.dear′ness n.

dear²

D0057300 (dîr)adj. Severe; grievous; sore: our dearest need.

[Middle English dere, from Old English dēor.]

dear

(dɪə) adj1. beloved; precious2. used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith3. (foll by: to) important; close: a wish dear to her heart. 4. a. highly pricedb. charging high prices5. appealing or pretty: what a dear little ring!. 6. for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperationinterjused in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me!n (often used in direct address) someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darlingadvdearly: his errors have cost him dear. [Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dӯrr] ˈdearness n

dear¹

(dɪər)

adj. , -er, -est,
n., adv., interj. adj. 1. beloved; loved. 2. (used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting): Dear Sir or Madam. 3. cherished: our dearest possessions. 4. heartfelt: no dearer wish. 5. expensive. 6. Obs. worthy. n. 7. a kind or generous person. 8. a beloved one. 9. (sometimes cap.) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.) adv. 10. dearly; fondly. 11. at a high price: I paid dear for that painting. interj. 12. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.). [before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore] dear′ly, adv. dear′ness, n. usage: Definition 12 is an affectionate term of address used to a child, sweetheart, etc. However, when used in the workplace or in social interactions with strangers, it is sometimes perceived as insulting.

dear²

(dɪər)

adj. -er, -est. Archaic. hard; grievous. [before 1000; Middle English dere, Old English dēor brave, bold, severe]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dear - a beloved person; used as terms of endearmentbeloved, dearest, honey, lovelover - a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
	2.	dear - a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)lambinexperienced person, innocent - a person who lacks knowledge of evil
Adj.	1.	dear - dearly loved beloved, darlingloved - held dear; "his loved companion of many years"
	2.	dear - with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"near, goodclose - close in relevance or relationship; "a close family"; "we are all...in close sympathy with..."; "close kin"; "a close resemblance"
	3.	dear - earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"heartfelt, devout, earnestsincere - open and genuine; not deceitful; "he was a good man, decent and sincere"; "felt sincere regret that they were leaving"; "sincere friendship"
	4.	dear - having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant"high-priced, pricey, pricy, costlyexpensive - high in price or charging high prices; "expensive clothes"; "an expensive shop"
Adv.	1.	dear - with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately"affectionately, dearly
	2.	dear - at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear"dearly

dear

adjective1. beloved, close, valued, favourite, respected, prized, dearest, sweet, treasured, precious, darling, intimate, esteemed, cherished, revered Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine.
beloved hated, disliked2. (Brit. informal) expensive, costly, high-priced, excessive, pricey (informal), at a premium, overpriced, exorbitant Don't buy that one - it's too dear.
expensive cheap, inexpensive, worthless3. charming, appealing, winning, pleasing, attractive, engaging, lovely, pleasant, fetching, delightful, cute, irresistible, captivating, bewitching, winsome, cutesy (informal, chiefly U.S.), likable or likeable the joy of seeing the looks on their dear little facesnoun1. darling, love, dearest, sweet, angel, treasure, precious, honey, beloved, loved one, sweetheart, truelove Yes, my dear.

dear

adjective1. Regarded with much love and tenderness:beloved, darling, loved, precious.2. Bringing a high price:costly, expensive, high, high-priced.nounA person who is much loved:beloved, darling, honey, love, minion, precious, sweet, sweetheart, truelove.Informal: sweetie.Idiom: light of one's life.

Translations

亲爱的昂贵的被爱的人钟爱的可爱的人

dear

(diə) adjective1. high in price. Cabbages are very dear this week.昂贵的2. very lovable. He is such a dear little boy.亲爱的3. (with to) much loved. She is very dear to me.钟爱的4. used as a polite way of addressing someone, especially in a letter. Dear Sir. 亲爱的（用于称呼人） noun1. a person who is lovable or charming. He is such a dear!可爱的人2. a person who is loved or liked (especially used to address someone). Come in, dear.被爱的人ˈdearly adverb very much or very strongly. I would dearly like to see you; She loved him dearly.非常dear, dear! / oh dear! mild expressions of regret, sorrow, pity etc. Oh dear! I've forgotten my key. 呵，哎呀

dear

→ 亲爱的zhCN, 昂贵的zhCN

dear

after you, my dear Alphonse

A phrase typically said when two people try to do the same thing at the same time. It derives from the 1920s comic strip Happy Hooligan, which featured two very well-mannered Frenchmen, Alphonse and Gaston. No, no, you go first—after you, my dear Alphonse!See also: after, dear

Dear John letter

A letter sent, typically from a woman to a man, to end a romantic relationship. Mike was clearly upset when he received a Dear John letter from his girlfriend, Caroline. He thought their relationship was going well and didn't expect it to end so suddenly. Mail call was usually a happy time in the military barracks, except for the unlucky soldiers who got Dear John letters from their sweethearts back home.See also: dear, john, letter

cost (one) dear

To bring one trouble; to result in very negative consequences. The crimes of his youth cost him dear when he started applying for jobs.See also: cost, dear

dear me

An expression of surprise or disappointment. Dear me, it seems I've forgotten the casserole I made for tonight's meeting.See also: dear

dear(ly) departed

euphemism One who has died. Myrna was a wonderful woman, and we are all gathered here today to remember our dearly departed.See also: departed

hold on for dear life

To hold something very tightly, as if one's life depended on it. The hiker grabbed a root as she fell off the cliff, and had to hold on for dear life while she waited for the rescue crew. When the dentist motioned us back into the examination room, my daughter clutched her chair and held on for dear life.See also: dear, hold, life, on

near and dear to (one)

Of great importance to and held in very high esteem by one. Literature has been near and dear to me since high school. It's important to have people in your life who are near and dear to you.See also: and, dear, near

dear to (one's) heart

Personally important to, or loved by, one. The little girl who came to visit the elderly woman every weekend was very dear to her heart.See also: dear, heart

hang on for dear life

To hang on to something very tightly, as if one's life depended on it. The hiker grabbed a root as she fell off the cliff, and had to hang on for dear life while she waited for the rescue crew. When the dentist motioned us back into the examination room, my daughter clutched her chair and hung on for dear life.See also: dear, hang, life, on

nearest and dearest

The people with whom one has the closest relationships; one's closest and move beloved family members and friends. People would much rather go home and spend time with their nearest and dearest, not hang around their co-workers at some dull office party.See also: and, dear, near

be close to (one's) heart

To be personally important to or loved by one. The little girl who came to visit the elderly woman every weekend was very close to her heart.See also: close, heart

be near to (one's) heart

To be personally important to or loved by one. That old dog is very near to my heart.See also: heart, near

hold (someone or something) dear

To consider someone or something to be very valuable or important, especially at a personal level. Even though this old pocket watch doesn't work anymore, I still hold it dear as it was the last thing my grandfather ever gave me. I consider myself a pretty gregarious person, but there are only a few people I truly hold dear. We purport to hold these values dear, but our actions contradict them.See also: dear, hold

old dear

An old lady. That poor old dear can't remember much these days, but she's a real sweetheart.See also: dear, old

for dear life

As if one's life depends on it (because one is in a dangerous or grave situation, although the phrase can also be used humorously). The hiker grabbed a root as she fell off the cliff, and had to hold on for dear life while she waited for the rescue crew. When the dentist motioned us back into the examination room, my daughter clutched her chair and held on for dear life.See also: dear, life

dear departed

Euph. a dead person, as referred to at a funeral. Let's take a moment to meditate on the life of the dear departed.See also: dear, departed

a Dear John letter

a letter a woman writes to her boyfriend telling him that she does not love him anymore. Bert got a Dear John letter today from Sally. He was devastated.See also: dear, john, letter

Dear me!

an expression of mild dismay or regret. Sue: Dear me, is this all there is? Mary: There's more in the kitchen. "Oh, dear me!" fretted John, "I'm late again."See also: dear

hang on for dear life

Cliché to hang on tight. As the little plane bounced around over the mountains, we hung on for dear life.See also: dear, hang, life, on

thing you don't want is dear at any price

Prov. You should not buy something just because it is cheap. Jill: There's a sale on black-and-white film; we should get some. Jane: We never use black-and-white film. Jill: But it's so cheap. Jane: A thing you don't want is dear at any price.See also: any, dear, price, thing, want

dear me

Also, oh dear. A polite exclamation expressing surprise, distress, sympathy, etc. For example, Dear me, I forgot to mail it, or Oh dear, what a bad time you've been having. These usages may originally have invoked God, as in dear God or oh God , which also continue to be so used. [Late 1600s] See also: dear

for dear life

Also, for one's life. Desperately, urgently, so as to save one's life. For example, When the boat capsized, I hung on for dear life, or With the dogs chasing them they ran for their lives, or She wanted that vase but I saw it first and hung on to it for dear life. These expressions are sometimes hyperbolic (that is, one's life may not actually be in danger). The first dates from the mid-1800s, the variant from the first half of the 1600s. Also see for the life of one. See also: dear, life

nearest and dearest

One's closest and fondest friends, companions, or relatives, as in It's a small gathering-we're inviting only a dozen or so of our nearest and dearest. This rhyming expression has been used ironically since the late 1500s, as well as by Shakespeare in 1 Henry IV (3:2): "Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes, which art my nearest and dearest enemy?" See also: and, dear, near

close to your heart

mainly BRITISH or

dear to your heart

COMMON If a subject is close to your heart or dear to your heart, it is very important to you and you care a lot about it. Note: The heart is traditionally regarded as the centre of the emotions. For presenter Manjeet K. Sandhu the position of Asian women in society is an issue very close to her heart. It's a project that is dear to my heart. Note: In American English, you can also say that a subject is near and dear to your heart. She has impressed Senators with her knowledge of subjects near and dear to their hearts.See also: close, heart

your nearest and dearest

Your nearest and dearest are your close friends and family. The English do not like to show their feelings, even to their nearest and dearest.See also: and, dear, near

for dear (or your) life

as if or in order to escape death. 1992 Independent I made for the life raft and hung on for dear life. See also: dear, life

your nearest and dearest

your close friends and relatives.See also: and, dear, near

dear me

(dear,) oh dear

used for expressing worry, sympathy, concern, etc: Dear me! It’s started to rain and I’ve just hung out the washing!See also: dear

for dear ˈlife

for your ˈlife

because you are in danger: Run for your life! A tiger has escaped from the circus! ♢ They were clinging for dear life to the edge of the rock.See also: dear, life

hold somebody/something ˈdear

(formal) feel that somebody/something is of great value: He laughed at the ideas they held dear.See also: dear, hold, somebody, something

be close/dear/near to somebody’s ˈheart

be a person or thing that somebody is very fond of, concerned about, interested in, etc: The campaign to keep our local hospital open is something that is very close to my heart.See also: close, dear, heart, near

your ˌnearest and ˈdearest

(informal, often humorous) your close family and friends: It must be difficult for him here, living so far away from his nearest and dearest.See also: and, dear, near

an old ˈdear

(informal) an old woman: And then this old dear came in looking very ill, so I asked the doctor to see her before the other patients.See also: dear, old

Dear John letter

n. a letter a woman writes to her boyfriend in the military service telling him that she does not love him anymore. Sally sends a Dear John letter about once a month. See also: dear, john, letter

for dear life

Desperately or urgently: I ran for dear life when I saw the tiger.See also: dear, life

dear John

A letter or other notification calling off a romantic relationship. The term was born during World War II, when a serviceman stationed overseas received a letter from his girlfriend or wife ending their relationship. After the war it was extended to both genders and used quite loosely, sometimes even for other kinds of rejection.See also: dear, john

nearest and dearest

One’s closest and fondest companions, friends, and/ or relatives. This expression, which no doubt owes its longevity to its rhyme, is often used ironically, and has been ever since the sixteenth century. Shakespeare so used it in Henry IV, Part 1 (3.2), when King Henry tells his son, Prince Hal, “Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes, which art my near’st and dearest enemy? Thou that art like enough . . . to fight against me under Percy’s pay.” So did Thomas Middleton in his comedy, Anything for a Quiet Life (5.1), produced in 1615. A contemporary context might have it, “We’re having an intimate gathering—for only a hundred of our nearest and dearest.”See also: and, dear, near

dear

dear

dear 1

dear 2

dear

dear1

dear2

dear

dear

dear

dear

dear

after you, my dear Alphonse

Dear John letter

cost (one) dear

dear me

dear(ly) departed

hold on for dear life

near and dear to (one)

dear to (one's) heart

hang on for dear life

nearest and dearest

be close to (one's) heart

be near to (one's) heart

hold (someone or something) dear

old dear

for dear life

dear departed

a Dear John letter

Dear me!

hang on for dear life

thing you don't want is dear at any price

dear me

for dear life

nearest and dearest

close to your heart

dear to your heart

your nearest and dearest

for dear (or your) life

your nearest and dearest

dear me

(dear,) oh dear

for dear ˈlife

for your ˈlife

hold somebody/something ˈdear

be close/dear/near to somebody’s ˈheart

your ˌnearest and ˈdearest

an old ˈdear

Dear John letter

for dear life

dear John

nearest and dearest

DEAR

dear

Synonyms for dear

adj beloved

Synonyms

Antonyms

adj expensive

Synonyms

Antonyms

adj charming

Synonyms

noun darling

Synonyms

Synonyms for dear

adj regarded with much love and tenderness

Synonyms

adj bringing a high price

Synonyms

noun a person who is much loved

Synonyms

Synonyms for dear

noun a beloved person

Synonyms

Related Words

noun a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

Synonyms

Related Words

adj dearly loved

dear¹

dear²

dear¹

dear²