dear

dear ¹  (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. One that is greatly loved.

2. An endearing, lovable, or kind person.

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.

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[Middle English dere, from Old English dore.]

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dearly adv.

dearness n.

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dear ²  (dîr)

adj.

Severe; grievous; sore: our dearest need.

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[Middle English dere, from Old English dor.]

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dear [dɪə]

adj

1. beloved; precious

2. used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith

3. (postpositive; foll by to) important; close a wish dear to her heart

4.

a.  highly priced

b.  charging high prices

5. appealing or pretty what a dear little ring!

for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation

interj

used 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; darling

adv

dearly his errors have cost him dear

[Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dȳrr]

dearness  n

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dear - a beloved person; used as terms of endearment beloved, dearest, honey, love lover - a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
	2.	dear - a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child) lamb inexperienced person, innocent - a person who lacks knowledge of evil
Adj.	1.	dear - dearly loved beloved, darling loved - 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, good close - 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, earnest sincere - 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, costly expensive - 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

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dear

adjective

1. 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, disliked

2. (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, worthless

3. 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 faces

noun

darling, love, dearest, sweet, angel, treasure, precious, honey, beloved, loved one, sweetheart, truelove Yes, my dear.

Translations

dear [dɪəʳ]

A. ADJ (dearer (compar) (dearest (superl)))

1. (= loved) → querido
she's a very dear friend of mine → es una amiga mía muy querida
my dearest friend → mi amigo más querido, mi amigo del alma

2. (= lovable) he's a dear boy, but rather impetuous → es un chico muy majo, pero un poco impulsivo
what a dear little boy! → ¡este niño es un encanto!
what a dear little necklace that is! → ¡qué bonita que es esa gargantilla!

3. (= precious) it's my dearest wish → es mi mayor deseo
to hold sth dear → apreciar algo
the values and beliefs which our society holds dear → los valores y las creencias que nuestra sociedad aprecia
I had to leave everything I held most dear → tuve que dejar atrás todas las cosas que más quería
his family life was very dear to him → su familia era muy importante para él
your country is very dear to me → tengo su país en mucha estima
it is a subject dear to her heart → es uno de sus temas preferidos
see also life A2

4. (in letter writing) Dear Daddy → Querido papá
Dear Peter → Estimado Peter; (to closer friend) → Querido Peter
Dear Mr/Mrs Smith → Estimado Sr./Estimada Sra. Smith; (more formally) → Distinguido Sr./Distinguida Sra. Smith
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith → Estimados señores(de)Smith
Dear Madam → Estimada Señora, Muy señora mía, De mi/nuestra consideración(esp LAm)
Dear Sir(s) → Estimado(s)Señor(es), Muy señor(es)mío(s), De mi/nuestra consideración(esp LAm)
Dear Sir or Madam → Estimado Señor(a)

5. (form of address) → querido
my dear fellow, I won't hear of it (o.f.) → amigo mío or mi querido amigo, ni se le ocurra
my dear girl, nothing could be further from the truth → querida, estás muy equivocada

6. (= expensive) [product, shop, price] → caro
dear money (Fin) → dinero m caro

B. EXCL dear, dear, have you hurt your knee? → ¡ay, mi niño! ¿te has hecho daño en la rodilla?
dear me, it's nearly one o'clock! → ¡madre mía, es casi la una!
oh dear, we're going to be late → vaya hombre or vaya por Dios, vamos a llegar tarde
dear, oh dear, look at the mess you're in! → ay, Dios mío or qué horror, ¡mira qué desastre vienes hecho!

C. N (as form of address) → cariño m
come along, dear → ven, cariño
would you be a dear and pass me my book? → anda, sé bueno y pásame el libro
(you) poor dear! → ¡pobrecito!
he's such a dear → es un cielo, es un encanto

D. ADV [sell, buy, pay] → caro
it cost me dear (fig) → me costó caro

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dear [ˈdɪə^r]

adj

(= beloved) [friend] → cher*(chère); [thing] → cher*(chère)
She's a dear friend of mine → C'est une amie très chère.

(in letter) Dear Sir/Madam → Monsieur/Madame
Dear Mr Green → Cher Monsieur Green
Dear Mrs Duval → Chère Madame Duval

(= important) to be dear to sb → être cher* à qn(chère)
to be dear to sb's heart → tenir à cœur à qn

(= expensive) → cher*(chère), coûteux/euse

n
my dear → mon cher*(ma chère)

adv
to cost sb dear (= have serious consequences for) → coûter cher à qn

excl
dear me! → mon Dieu!
oh dear → oh mon Dieu
dear, dear, dear → oh là là

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dear

adj (+er)

(= loved) → lieb, teuer (liter); I hold him/it dear → er/es ist mir lieb und teuer; she is a dear friend of mine → sie ist eine sehr gute Freundin von mir; it is dear to my heart → es liegt mir sehr am Herzen; that is my dearest wish → das ist mein sehnlichster or innigster Wunsch; my dear fellow → mein lieber Freund; you are very dear to me → du bist mir lieb und teuer; these memories are very dear to him → diese Erinnerungen sind ihm teuer

(= lovable, sweet) child → lieb, süß, reizend; thing → süß, entzückend, reizend; what a dear little dress/baby/kitten → was für ein süßes or entzückendes Kleidchen/Kind/Kätzchen!

(in letter-writing etc) dear Daddy/John → lieber Vati/John!; dear Sir → sehr geehrter Herr X!; dear Madam → sehr geehrte Frau X!; dear Sir or Madam → sehr geehrte Damen und Herren!; dear Mr Kemp → sehr geehrter Herr Kemp!; (less formal) → lieber Herr Kemp!; Dear John letter (esp US inf) → Abschiedsbrief m

(= expensive) goods, shop → teuer; prices → hoch; to get dearer (goods) → teuer werden

interj dear dear!, dear me! → (ach) du liebe Zeit!, (du) meine Güte!; oh dear! → oje!, ach du meine Güte or du liebe Zeit!

n hello/thank you dear → hallo/vielen Dank; Robert dear → (mein lieber) Robert; yes, dear (husband to wife etc) → ja, Schätzchen or Liebling; Edward, my dear → mein lieber Edward; my dearest → meine Teuerste (geh), → mein Teuerster (geh), → (meine) Liebste, (mein) Liebster; are you being served, dear? (inf) → werden Sie schon bedient?; give it to me, there’s a dear (Brit inf) → gib es mir, sei (doch) so lieb or gut; be a dear (inf) → sei so lieb or gut; poor dear → die Arme, der Arme; your mother is a dear (inf) → deine Mutter ist ein Engel (inf) → or richtig lieb; her little boy is such a dear → ihr kleiner Junge ist so ein süßer Knopf (inf); this old dear came up to me (Brit) → dieses Muttchen kam zu mir her (inf)

adv (lit, fig) buy, pay, sell → teuer; this will cost them dear → das wird sie teuer zu stehen kommen

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dear [dɪəʳ]

1. adj (-er (comp) (-est (superl)))

a. (loved, lovable) → caro/a
I hold it very dear → mi è molto caro
my dearest wish → il mio più ardente desiderio
what a dear little boy! → che amore di bambino!
a dear little cottage → una casetta deliziosa

b. (in letter writing) Dear Daddy/Peter → Caro papà/Peter
Dearest Paul → Carissimo Paul
Dear Mr/Mrs Smith → Gentile Signor/Signora Smith
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith → Gentili Signori Smith
Dear Sir/Madam → Egregio Signore/Gentile Signora

c. (expensive) → caro/a
dear money (Comm) → denaro ad alto interesse

2. excl oh dear! → oh Dio!, mamma mia!
dear me! → Dio mio!

3. n → caro/a
my dear → caro/a mio/a
my dearest → amore mio
(you) poor dear! → poverino!
he's a dear! (fam) → è un tesoro!
post this letter for me, there's a dear (fam) → sii gentile, imbucami questa lettera

4. adv → caro to pay dear for sth → pagare caro qc
he bought his freedom dear → la sua libertà gli è costata cara

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dear [dɪəʳ]

1. adj (-er (comp) (-est (superl)))

a. (loved, lovable) → caro/a
I hold it very dear → mi è molto caro
my dearest wish → il mio più ardente desiderio
what a dear little boy! → che amore di bambino!
a dear little cottage → una casetta deliziosa

b. (in letter writing) Dear Daddy/Peter → Caro papà/Peter
Dearest Paul → Carissimo Paul
Dear Mr/Mrs Smith → Gentile Signor/Signora Smith
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith → Gentili Signori Smith
Dear Sir/Madam → Egregio Signore/Gentile Signora

c. (expensive) → caro/a
dear money (Comm) → denaro ad alto interesse

2. excl oh dear! → oh Dio!, mamma mia!
dear me! → Dio mio!

3. n → caro/a
my dear → caro/a mio/a
my dearest → amore mio
(you) poor dear! → poverino!
he's a dear! (fam) → è un tesoro!
post this letter for me, there's a dear (fam) → sii gentile, imbucami questa lettera

4. adv → caro to pay dear for sth → pagare caro qc
he bought his freedom dear → la sua libertà gli è costata cara

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dear

adj dear [diə]

1 high in price Cabbages are very dear this week. duur غالي الثَّمَن скъп drahý dyr teuer ακριβός caro kallis گران kallis cher יָקַר महंगा skup drága mahal dÿr caro 高価な 비싼 brangus dārgs mahal duur dyr drogi caro scump дорогой drahý drag skup dyr มีค่า pahalı 昂貴的 дорогий بڑی قیمت والا đắt đỏ 昂贵的

2 very lovable He is such a dear little boy. dierbaar, skatlik مَحْبوب، عَزيز любим milý kær lieb αξιαγάπητος encantador armas دوست داشتنی rakastettava adorable חָמוּד प्यारा ljubak, mio kedves tersayang innilegur adorabile かわいい 사랑스런 mielas jauks; mīļš penyayang lief søt og snill kochany, milutki adorável ado­rabil славный milý ljubek drag rar, gullig ซึ่งเป็นที่รักยิ่ง sevgili 親愛的 чарівний; чудовий بہت عزیز đáng yêu 亲爱的

3 (withto) much loved She is very dear to me. dierbaar, kosbaar حَبيب، عَزيز скъп milovaný (kým) dyrebar for teuer αγαπητός querido kallis عزیز؛ محبوب rakas cher אָהוּב बहुत प्यारा drag drága disayang kær affabile いとしい 소중한 brangus dārgs; mīļš sangat disayangi dierbaar kjær drogi, kochany querido drag дорогой drahý ljubezniv drag kär ซึ่งเป็นที่รัก kıymetli, değerli 鐘愛的 любий, милий عزیز rất được quý trọng 钟爱的

4 used as a polite way of addressing someone, especially in a letter Dear Sir. beste, liewe, geagte عَزيزي обръщение в писмо Vážený kære Liebe/r αγαπητέ, αξιότιμε querido austatud محترم؛ عزیز arvoisa cher יַקִירִי, יַקִירָתִי किसी को संबोधित करने में उपयोग किया जाता है poštovani, cijenjeni kedves terhormat háttvirti, kæri caro; egregio 親愛なる～ (편지에서) 님 gerbiamasis, brangusis, mielasis (uzrunā vēstulē) godātais kungs! menghormati orang geacht kjære drogi prezado dragă уважаемый vážený spoštovani Poštovani kära, käre, bästa, bäste คำเรียกขานอย่างสุภาพโดยเฉพาะในจดหมาย sayın, muhterem 親愛的(用於稱呼人) дорогий خطوط کے القاب کا جزو kính thưa 亲爱的（用于称呼人）

n

1 a person who is lovable or charming He is such a dear! skat شَخْص عَزيز мил човек drahoušek skat der Schatz αξιαγάπητο άτομο encanto, amor kullakallis آدم دوست داشتنی و جذاب kullannuppu amour חָמוּד प्यारा, लाडला umiljat drága orang yang baik sekali yndi, gersemi tesoro かわいい人 사랑스런 사람 mielas žmogus jauks/mīļš cilvēks orang yang menawan lieverd elskelig og søt person kochane stworzenie encanto drăguţ прелесть miláčik srček, ljubica mio čovek raring, förtjusande person น่ารัก sevimli/cana yakın kimse 可愛的人 чудо محبوب یا دلکش شخص người đáng yêu 可爱的人

2 a person who is loved or liked (especially used to address someone) Come in, dear. skat, liefste, liefling شَخْص مَحْبوب любими miláček, drahý/drahá kære der Liebling αγαπητός, αγαπητέ (για προσφώνηση) querido kallike شخص عزیز؛ دلبند kulta cher/-ère יַקִיר, יַקִירָה संकाय अध्यक्ष dragi kedves sayang elskan, væni caro いとしい人 사랑하는 사람 mielasis, brangusis mīļais; dārgais sangat disayangi schat kjære, vennen min kochany querido dragă дорогой, милый drahý, -á dragi, draga draga kära du, käraste ที่รัก sevgili, aziz, canım 被愛的人 дорогий پیارا người yêu quý 被爱的人

adv dearly

very much or very strongly I would dearly like to see you; She loved him dearly. innig كَثيرا، إلى حَدٍ كَبير силно nesmírně, vroucně meget herzlich πολύ mucho, muchísimo kogu südamest بسیار زیاد؛ گران hyvin paljon infiniment, tendrement מאוֹד מאוֹד प्यार से nježno nagyon sangat innilega moltissimo 心から 아주 labai sirsnīgi; ļoti sunguh-sungguh dolgraag, innig inderlig bardzo mocno imenso din tot sufletul очень сильно nesmierne, vrúcne zelo puno innerligt, så gärna อย่างที่สุด çok, pek çok 非常 ніжно; гаряче شدت سے rất nhiều 非常

dear, dear! / oh dear!

mild expressions of regret, sorrow, pity etc Oh dear! I've forgotten my key. liewe aarde/ hemel/ land/ vader يا سَلام! تَعْبير تَعَجُّب للتَّعْبير عن الأسَف أو الشَفَقَه أو الفَزَع о, Боже! můj bože, jejda kære; du godeste; ih nej altså Ach, du liebe Zeit! ποπό! (επιφ.) ¡Dios mío!, ¡ay, Dios!, ¡vaya! heldeke! حرف ندا حاکی از غم یا افسوس voi voi oh là là! אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי प्रिय, लाड़ला jao!, o! te jó ég! æ, æ!, ja hérna! Oh Signore! おや, まあ！ 이런!, 아이고!, 어머나! oi! o Dieve! ak vai! kesal ojee! kjære vene!; du slette tid! O Boże! Que coisa! vai de mine! боже мой! preboha! prepánajána ojoj! Bože kära nån []!, oj då! คำอุทานแสดงความโศกเศร้า Eyvah!, Aman Allahım!; Yaa! 呵，哎呀 О Боже! О Господи اوہو thể hiện sự nuối tiếc 呵，哎呀

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dear → عزيز, عزيزي drahý, milovaný dyr, kære lieb, teuer αγαπητός, πολύτιμος costoso, querido kallis, rakas cher dragi, skup caro, costoso 親愛な, 高価な 비싼, 사랑하는 dierbaar, duur dyr, kjær drogi, kochany caro, custoso, querido дорогой dyr, kär ซึ่งเป็นที่รักยิ่ง, มีราคาสูง pahalı, sevgili đắt đỏ, thân yêu 亲爱的, 昂贵的