1. 珍贵的；珍视的　 precious; of the greatest importance
2. 价格昂贵的；昂贵的　 expensive
3. 亲爱的　 much loved

　～ money　付高利息贷借来的钱，高利贷
　～ shop　高档商品商店
　～ side　偏贵，有点儿贵
　～ in love with sb　爱…爱得要命
　～ on　热爱，擅长，对准，对…射击
　～ to　对…是宝贵的
　～ to all　大家都感到亲切
　～ to sb's heart　是…所钟爱的

　Dear Sir　亲爱的先生
　My Dear Mary　亲爱的玛丽
　Will you try to forgive me, my dearest, as I forgave you?　亲爱的，您能像我原谅您那样地原谅我吗?
　He is my dearest friend.　他是我最亲爱的朋友。
　He is a dear friend of my father's.　他是我父亲的一位亲密朋友。
　It is absurdly dear.　这价格高得荒唐。
　It would have been dear at half the price.　这东西即使是半价还是太贵。
　Fruit is dear at this time of year.　一年中这个时候水果是很贵的。
　Watermelons are dear in winter.　西瓜冬天价高。
　Life is very dear to him.　生命对他来说十分宝贵。
　His daughter is very dear to him.　对他来说，女儿非常宝贵。
　He is a man dear to all.　他是一个人人都爱与之亲近的男子。
　His money is dearer to him than his wife.　对他而言，钱比妻子更珍贵。
　If you find these dear, I can show you cheaper ones.　如果你觉得这些太贵，我可以给你看些便宜的。

 ♣ dear, costly, expensive
　这组词的共同意思是“高贵的”或“昂贵的”。其区别在于：dear指本身并不见得贵，但与同类物品的价格相比而显得“贵”; expensive指虽物有所值，但超出购买者支付能力的“贵”; costly则指物体本身“贵重”，因而价格“昂贵”，常引申指耗费的物质或精力很大。例如：
　In the middle of the summer, fresh oranges are dear, but in the winter months they are cheap.　仲夏时节的鲜桔很贵，但在冬季的几个月里却很便宜。
　We indulged in an expensive supper after the concert.　音乐会后我们尽情地享受了一顿昂贵的晚餐。
　Selling your house can be a costly and time-consuming business.　出售你的房子很可能是费钱耗时的事。
 ♣ dear, deer
　参见deer条。

1. 那家店里的东西都贵。
　［误］ The shop has a very dear price.
　［正］ That's a very dear shop.
　［析］ dear作定语时，不可修饰price.
2. 这座房子价钱昂贵。
　［误］ The price of the house is very dear.
　［正］ The house is very dear.
　［正］ The price of the house is very high.
　［析］ dear在系表结构中作“昂贵的”解时，主语通常不用price，主语若用price，表语则用high.

C 亲爱的，亲爱的人，可爱的人 a person who is loved or lovable

　Drink your milk up, Anne, there's a dear.　把牛奶喝掉，安妮，乖。
　Be a dear and make me some tea.　做个好人，给我烧点茶吧。
　Come here, my dear.　亲爱的，这边来。
　Did you have a good day, dear?　你今天工作顺利吗，亲爱的?
　That will be fifty pence please, dear.　一共是50便士，亲爱的。

　昂贵地，高价地　at a high cost

　I bought it much too dear.　我买得太贵了。
　If you want to make money, you must buy cheap and sell dear.　如果你想赚钱的话，你就必须低价买进，高价卖出。
　His blunder cost us dear.　他铸成的大错使我们付出了昂贵的代价。
　If you attempt it, it will cost you dear.　如果你想试，一定会吃大亏的。
　Her decision to marry him cost her dear.　她决定跟他结婚，为此付出了很大的代价。
　The accident cost him dear.　这次意外使他损失很重。

 ♣ deal, dearly
　这两者意思并不相同：dear表示“昂贵地”，修饰buy, pay, sell, cost等动词；而dearly表示“深爱地”“热切地”。例如：
　He sells his goods very dear.　他的货卖得很贵。
　He would dearly love to visit the Great Wall of China.　他切望参观中国的万里长城。

　啊，天哪　ah; my god

　deal　用作感叹词时，相当于汉语中的“啊，哎呀”，表示惊奇、焦急、歉意、生气、失望等。

　Dear, dear!　天哪！
　Oh dear! My head aches.　哎呀！我的头好疼啊。
　Oh dear! The travelling bag has been left.　哎呀！忘拿旅行袋了。
　Oh dear!I've lost my pen.　哎呀！我的笔丢了。
　Dear me!What awful weather!　哎呀！多坏的天气！

　［同义词］ adj. beloved, cherished, close, costly, darling, expensive, familiar, favourite, loved, precious, respected, valued
　［反义词］ adj. cheap, hateful
　［词源］中古英语dere<古英语deore（珍贵的，亲爱的，哎呀）