sir

sir

W3 [sə strong sə: $ sər strong sə:r] n

[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: SIRE¹]

1.) spoken used when speaking to a man in order to be polite or show respect

▪ 'Report back to me in an hour, sergeant.' 'Yes, sir.'

▪ Can I help you, sir?

▪ Sir! You dropped your wallet.

→↑madam, BrE ↑ma'amAmE

2.) Dear Sir/Sirs

used at the beginning of a formal letter to a man or to people you do not know

3.) Sir

a title used before the first name of a ↑knight or ↑baronet

▪ Sir Paul McCartney

▪ Sir Jasper

4.) BrE spoken used by children at school when speaking to or talking about a male teacher

▪ Sir, I've forgotten my homework.

▪ Look out - sir's coming back!

→↑miss² (4)

5.) no/yes sir! also no/yes siree! especially AmE

old-fashioned spoken used to emphasize a statement or an answer to a question

▪ I will not have that man in my home, no sir!