dear

dear¹ S1 [dıə US dır] interjection

Oh dear

used to show that you are surprised, upset, or annoyed because something bad has happened

▪ Oh dear, I've broken the lamp.

▪ 'I think I'm getting a cold.' 'Oh dear!'

dear ²

dear² S2 n

1.) used when speaking to someone you love

▪ How did the interview go, dear?

2.) spoken used by an older person when speaking in a friendly way to someone who is younger

▪ Can I help you, dear?

▪ Come along, my dear , take a seat.

3.) BrE spoken someone who is kind and helpful

▪ Be a dear and make me a coffee.

4.) old dear

BrE a fairly rude expression meaning an old woman

dear ³

dear³ W2S2 adj comparative dearer superlative dearest

[: Old English; Origin: deore]

1.) Dear

used before someone's name or title to begin a letter

▪ Dear Sir or Madam, ...

▪ Dear Mrs. Wilson, ...

▪ Dear Meg, ...

2.) BrE expensive

≠ ↑cheap

▪ Cars are 59% dearer in Britain than in Europe.

3.) formal a dear friend or relative is very important to you and you love them a lot

▪ Mark became a dear friend .

be dear to sb

▪ His sister was very dear to him.

4.) hold sth dear

to think that something is very important

▪ Household economy was something my mother held very dear.

5.) dear old...

BrE spoken used to describe someone or something in a way that shows your love or liking of them

= ↑good old

▪ Here we are, back in dear old Manchester!

6.) for dear life

written if you run, fight, hold on etc for dear life, you do it as fast or as well as you can because you are afraid

▪ She grasped the side of the boat and hung on for dear life .

7.) the dear departed

BrE literary a person you love who has died

dear ⁴

dear⁴ adv

cost sb dear

written to cause a lot of trouble and suffering for someone

▪ Carolyn's marriage to Pete cost her dear.