deanship
deanship

dear


Definition: Meaning of, dear in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / dɪə /

  • interjection
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  1. Oh dear used to show that you are surprised, upset, or annoyed because something bad has happened
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  • noun
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Word Forms:
Singular Plural
dear dears
[countable]
  1. used when speaking to someone you love
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  2. spoken used by an older person when speaking in a friendly way to someone who is younger
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  3. British English spoken someone who is kind and helpful
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  4. old dear British English a fairly rude expression meaning an old woman
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  • adjective
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
dear dearer dearest
  1. Dear used before someone's name or title to begin a letter
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  2. British English expensive
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  3. formal a dear friend or relative is very important to you and you love them a lot
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  4. hold something dear to think that something is very important
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  5. dear old... British English spoken used to describe someone or something in a way that shows your love or liking of them [=  good old]
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  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
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  7. the dear departed British English literary a person you love who has died
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  • adverb
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
dear dearer dearest
  1. cost somebody dear written to cause a lot of trouble and suffering for someone
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dear used in phrases

  • Dear Abby
    1. a US newspaper COLUMN by Abigail Van Buren, which prints letters from readers asking for advice and her answers to these letters
  • dear John letter (noun)
    1. a letter that a man receives from his wife or girlfriend that tells him she no longer loves him
  • dear me
    1. used to express shock, dismay, disappointment, sympathy, etc.
  • for dear life (adverb)
    1. as though your life was at stake
  • hold dear (verb)
    1. be fond of; be attached to
  • oh dear
    1. used to express shock, dismay, disappointment, sympathy, etc.
  • More

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Dear Abby