This flashcard defines "dear" as an adjective in multiple contexts: to describe someone or something affectionate, something cherished, or as a term of address in letters or for loved ones. It also functions as an exclamation of surprise or distress (e.g., "oh dear") and a noun for a kind person. Additionally, "dear" can mean expensive and is used in the idiom "cost someone dear" to mean suffering a consequence.
This flashcard defines "dear" as an adjective in multiple contexts: to describe someone or something affectionate, something cherished, or as a term of address in letters or for loved ones. It also functions as an exclamation of surprise or distress (e.g., "oh dear") and a noun for a kind person. Additionally, "dear" can mean expensive and is used in the idiom "cost someone dear" to mean suffering a consequence.
[ADJ 形容词]亲爱的;可爱的 You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
[ADJ n]
Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine...
卡文迪什夫人是我的一位亲密朋友。
At last I am back at my dear little desk.
我终于回到了我那张可爱的小桌子旁。
2
[ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]对…来说心爱的;在…(心中)宝贵的 If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it.
[v-link ADJ to n]
His family life was very dear to him...
他很珍视自己的家庭生活。
This is a subject very dear to the hearts of academics up and down the country.
这个话题举国上下的学者都非常关切。
3
[ADJ 形容词](用于表示喜爱或带有屈尊俯就意味的称呼中)亲爱的;小… You use dear in expressions such as 'my dear fellow', 'dear girl', or 'my dear Richard' when you are addressing someone whom you know and are fond of. You can also use expressions like this in a rude way to indicate that you think you are superior to the person you are addressing.
[ADJ n]
[feelings]
[BRIT 英]
Of course, Toby, my dear fellow, of course...
当然,托比,我亲爱的朋友,当然。
Take as long as you like, dear boy.
小伙子,随你花多长时间都行。
4
[ADJ 形容词](用于信函抬头的名字或头衔前)亲爱的,尊敬的Dear is written at the beginning of a letter, followed by the name or title of the person you are writing to.
[ADJ n]
Dear Peter, I have been thinking about you so much during the past few days...
亲爱的彼得,过去的这几天里我一直都在想你。
5
[CONVENTION 惯用语]尊敬的先生/尊敬的女士(英国英语中用于正式信函的开头,美国英语中则用 Sir 或 Madam) In British English, you begin formal letters with 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam'. In American English, you begin them with 'Sir' or 'Madam'.
[WRITTEN 笔语]
'Dear sir,' she began.
“尊敬的先生,”她开头写道。
6
[N-VOC 称呼名词](用于称呼喜爱的人)亲爱的 You can call someone dear as a sign of affection.
[feelings]
You're a lot like me, dear...
亲爱的,你很多地方都很像我。
'Good night, my dears,' she called to us as we closed her door behind us.
“晚安,我亲爱的孩子们,”我们关上她的房门时她对我们说道。
7
[EXCLAM 感叹语](表示伤心、失望或吃惊)啊呀,哎哟,天哪 You can use dear in expressions such as 'oh dear', 'dear me', and 'dear, dear' when you are sad, disappointed, or surprised about something.
[feelings]
'Oh dear, oh dear.' McKinnon sighed. 'You, too.'
“哎呀,哎呀!”麦金农叹息道,“你也一样。”
Outside, Bruce glanced at his watch: 'Dear me, nearly one o'clock.'
出了门,布鲁斯瞥了一眼自己的手表,“天哪,快一点了。”
8
[N-COUNT 可数名词]可爱的人;好人 You can call someone a dear when you are fond of them and think that they are nice.
He's such a dear.
他人真好。
9
[ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]昂贵的;价高的 If you say that something is dear, you mean that it costs a lot of money, usually more than you can afford or more than you think it should cost.
[usu v-link ADJ]
[disapproval]
[mainly BRIT 主英]
[INFORMAL 非正式]
CDs here are much dearer than in the States...
这儿的 CD 价格比美国那边贵多了。
They're too dear.
它们的价格太高了。
10
[PHRASE 短语]使…付出巨大代价;使…饱尝苦头 If something that someone does costs them dear, they suffer a lot as a result of it.
[V inflects]
Such complacency is costing the company dear.
这种自满情绪正使公司付出沉重代价。
Oxford
dear★/dɪə(r); NAmEdɪr/
adjective
,
exclamation
,
noun
,
adverb
deardearsdearerdearestadjective★(dear·er,dear·est)1★loved by or important to sb 亲爱的;宝贵的;珍视的◆He's one of my dearest friends.他是我最亲密的一位朋友。dearto sb ◆Her daughter is very dear to her.她的女儿是她心爱的宝贝。2★Dearused at the beginning of a letter before the name or title of the person that you are writing to (用于信函抬头的名字或头衔前)亲爱的◆Dear Sir or Madam亲爱的先生╱女士◆Dear Mrs Jones亲爱的琼斯太太3[not usually before noun ]( BrE) expensive; costing a lot of money 昂贵;价格高◆Everything's so dear now, isn't it?现在什么东西都那么贵,是不是?OPP
cheap
IDIOMSdear old/little…( BrE) used to describe sb in a way that shows affection (表示亲昵喜爱)亲爱的◆Dear old Sue! I knew she'd help.亲爱的苏啊!我知道她会帮忙的。◆Their baby's a dear little thing.他们的宝宝真是个小乖乖。hold sb/sth ˈdear( formal) to care very much for sb/sth; to value sb/sth highly 非常关心;十分看重;极为珍视◆He had destroyed everything we held dear.他把我们珍视的一切都给毁了。☞more at
heart
,
life
,
near
adj.exclamationused in expressions that show that you are surprised, upset, annoyed or worried (惊奇、不安、烦恼、担忧等时说)啊,哎呀,糟糕,天哪◆Oh dear!I think I've lost my purse! 糟糕,我可能把钱包给丢了!◆Oh dear!What a shame. 天哪,太可惜啦!◆Dear me!What a mess! 哎呀,真是一团糟!◆Dear oh dear!What are you going to do now? 哎呀呀,你现在怎么办呢?noun1( BrE) ( informal) a kind person 仁慈的人;可爱的人◆Isn't he a dear?他不是很可爱吗?◆Be a dear andfetch me my coat. 劳驾把外套给我拿来。2used when speaking to sb you love (称呼所爱的人)亲爱的◆Would you like a drink, dear?喝点什么吗,亲爱的?◆Come here, my dear.上这儿来,亲爱的。3used when speaking to sb in a friendly way, for example by an older person to a young person or a child (对较年轻的人或孩子说话时用)亲爱的,乖乖◆What's your name, dear?你叫什么名字,亲爱的?☞compare
duck
n. (4 )adverb( BrE) at a high price 高价地;昂贵地◆to buy cheap and sell dear贱买贵卖IDIOMsee
cost
v.dear/dɪə(r); NAmEdɪr/
LDC
dear1 interjection
dear2 adjective
dear3 noun
dear4 adverb
deardear1 /dɪə $ dɪr/ ●●●S1 interjection
Collocations
Phrases
Oh dear!/Dear oh dear! (also Dear me! old-fashioned) 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.’ ‘Dear oh dear!’
1Dear used before someone’s name or title to begin a letter: Dear Sir or Madam, ... Dear Mrs. Wilson, ... Dear Meg, ...2British English expensiveOPP cheap: Cars are 59% dearer in Britain than in Europe.► see thesaurus at
expensive
3formal a dear friend or relative is very important to you and you love them a lot: Mark became a dear friend.be dear to somebody His sister was very dear to him.4hold something dear to think that something is very important: Household economy was something my mother held very dear.5dear old ... British English spoken used to describe someone or something in a way that shows your love or liking of themSYN good old: Here we are, back in dear old Manchester!6for 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.7the dear departed British English literary a person you love who has died
dear1 interjection
dear2 adjective
dear3 noun
dear4 adverb
deardear3 ●●○S3 noun [countable]
Examples
Collocations
Phrases
1used when speaking to someone you love: How did the interview go, dear?2 spoken used when speaking in a friendly way to someone, especially someone who is much younger or much older than you. This use can sometimes sound rather patronizing: Can I help you, dear? Come along, my dear, take a seat.3 British English spoken someone who is kind and helpful: Be a dear and make me a coffee.4old dear British English a fairly rude expression meaning an old woman
dear1 interjection
dear2 adjective
dear3 noun
dear4 adverb
deardear4 adverb
Collocations
Phrases
cost somebody dear written to cause a lot of trouble and suffering for someone: Carolyn’s marriage to Pete cost her dear.