Definition for dear - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	dear (dear) Pronunciation: /dɪə/ adjective 1regarded with deep affection: a dear friend he is very dear to* me* used in speech as a polite or affectionate form of address: Martin, my dear fellow used in the polite form of address at the start of a letter. endearing; sweet: a dear little* puppy* 2chiefly British expensive: five pounds—that’s a bit dear! noun used as an affectionate or friendly form of address: don’t you worry, dear a sweet or endearing person: Harry’s a dear adverb chiefly British at a high cost: they buy property cheaply and sell dear exclamation used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy: oh dear, I’ve upset you Phrases for dear life see life Derivatives dearness noun Origin: Old English dēore, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier 'beloved', also to Dutch duur and German teuer 'expensive'		Search results in the dictionary old dear cost someone dear or dearly in cost hold someone/thing dear in hold¹ my or my good or my dear man in man for dear or one's life in life Dear John letter (also Dear John) More results » Nearby Words dean ² Dean of Faculty dean's list Dean, Christopher Dean, Dizzy Dean, Howard Brush III Dean, James Dean, John deanery dear Dear John letter Dearborn dearest dearie dearly dearth deasil death death adder