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    dear
    [dir]
    adjective
    dear (adjective) · dearer (comparative adjective) · dearest (superlative adjective)
    1. regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone:
      "a dear friend" · "he is very dear to me"
      • used in speech as a way of addressing a person in a polite way:
        "Martin, my dear fellow"
      • used as part of the polite introduction to a letter, especially in a formula denoting the degree of formality involved:
        "Dear Sir or Madam"
      • endearing; sweet:
        "a dear little puppy"
    2. BRITISH ENGLISH
      expensive.
      • (of money) available as a loan only at a high rate of interest.
    noun
    dear (noun) · dears (plural noun)
    1. used as an affectionate or friendly form of address:
      "don't you worry, dear"
      • a sweet or endearing person:
        "Harry's a dear"
    adverb
    BRITISH ENGLISH
    dear (adverb)
    1. at a high cost:
      "they buy property cheaply and sell dear"
    exclamation
    1. used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy:
      "oh dear, I've upset you"
    Origin
    Old English dēore, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier ‘beloved’, also to Dutch duur and German teuer ‘expensive’.
    Translate dear to
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    Similar and Opposite Words
    adjective
    1. regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone:
      beloved
      loved
      darling
      adored
      cherished
      precious
      esteemed
      respected
      worshipped
      close
      intimate
      confidential
      bosom
      boon
      favorite
      best
      treasured
      valued
      prized
      special
      favored
      much loved
      Opposite:
      hated
    2. expensive.
      expensive
      costly
      high-priced
      big-budget
      overpriced
      exorbitant
      extortionate
      immoderate
      extravagant
      lavish
      valuable
      upmarket
      pricey
      steep
      stiff
      high-cost
      highly priced
      over the odds
      Opposite:
      inexpensive
      noun
      1. used as an affectionate or friendly form of address:
        darling
        dearest
        love
        beloved
        sweetheart
        sweet
        precious
        treasure
        querida
        sweetie
        sugar
        honey
        baby
        babe
        bae
        pet
        sunshine
        poppet
        sweeting
        loved one
      adverb
      1. at a high cost:
        at a high price
        at an excessive price
        at an exorbitant price
        at high cost
        at great cost
       
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    1. define dear

      This summary was generated by AI from multiple online sources. Find the source links used for this summary under "Based on sources".
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      Address someone in a friendly way
      Organizing and summarizing search results for you

      "Dear" is used to address someone in a friendly way, especially someone you love or a child. It is commonly used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect. cambridge.org 1 2

      Based on 2 sources:
      Cambridge University Press & Assessment
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dear
      1
      DEAR | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
      Learn the meaning of dear as an adjective, noun, and exclamation in English. Find out how to use dear to express love, friendship, anger, or surprise, and see examples and translat…
      WordReference
      https://www.wordreference.com/definition/dear
      2
      dear - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
      Learn the definition, usage, and synonyms of the word "dear" in English. See examples of "dear" as an adjective, noun, interjection, and term of address in different contexts and r…
      cambridge.org
      wordreference.com
       
    2. Merriam Webster
      https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › dear

      Dear Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

       
    3. Vocabulary.com
      https://www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › dear

      Dear - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    4. Collins Dictionary
      https://www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english › dear

      DEAR definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    5. Cambridge Dictionary
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › dear

      DEAR | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    6. The Free Dictionary
      https://www.thefreedictionary.com › dear

      Dear - definition of dear by The Free Dictionary

    7. People also ask
      What does a dear person mean?
      a person who is good, kind, or generous: You're a dear to help me with the work. a beloved one. fondly. at a high price: That painting cost me dear. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment!

      dear - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

      wordreference.com
      How do you use Dear in a sentence?
      1. You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for. [...] 2. If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it. [...] 3. 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.

      DEAR - Meaning & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

      collinsdictionary.com
      How do you use Dear in a letter?
      1. You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for. [...] 2. If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it. [...] 3. Dear is written at the beginning of a letter, followed by the name or title of the person you are writing to. [...] Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

      DEAR - Definition & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

      collinsdictionary.com
      What does a dear friend mean?
      friend You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for. Mrs Cavendish is a dear friend of mine. expensive Something that is dear costs a lot of money. Taxis here are too dear. You can call someone dear as a sign of affection. You're a lot like me, dear.

      DEAR definition in American English - Collins Online Dictionary

      collinsdictionary.com
      What is dear adjective?
      (informal) your close family and friends Definition of dear adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

      dear adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

      oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
      When do you call someone a dear?
      You can call someone a dear when you are fond of them and think that they are nice. He's such a dear. 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. Clothes here are much dearer than in the States. They're too dear.

      DEAR definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

      collinsdictionary.com
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    8. Collins Dictionary
      https://www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english-word › dear

      DEAR - Definition & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

    9. Your Dictionary
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      Dear Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary

    10. Dictionary
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      DEAR Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    11. Britannica
      https://www.britannica.com › dictionary › dear

      Dear Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    12. Cambridge Dictionary
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › dear

      DEAR | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    13. Collins Dictionary
      https://www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › dear

      DEAR definition in American English - Collins Online Dictionary

    14. Cambridge Dictionary
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org › ... › dear

      DEAR | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    15. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english › dear

      dear adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …

    16. bab.la
      https://en.bab.la › dictionary › english › dear

      dear - Definition in English - bab.la

    17. WordReference
      https://www.wordreference.com › definition › dear

      dear - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

    18. Cambridge Dictionary
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org › ... › dear

      dear | definition in the Cambridge Essential English Dictionary

    19. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online
      https://www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › dear

      dear | meaning of dear in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary …

    20. Collins Dictionary
      https://www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-word › dear

      DEAR - Meaning & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

    21. Power Thesaurus
      https://www.powerthesaurus.org › dear › definitions

      Dear definitions - Meaning of Dear - Power Thesaurus

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