adj (1) 亲爱的(much loved or liked)：one's～wife/husband/friend亲爱的妻子/丈夫/朋友;one's～ones亲人;～old Aunt Elizabeth亲爱的伊丽莎白姑妈;〖同〗loved;〖反〗hated;

(2) 珍(宝)贵的(precious; greatly valued) [A(to)][多作pred]：(life/daughter/sister/fame/house/everything) be～to sb(生命/女儿/姐妹/名声/房子/一切)对某人来说是很宝贵的;The cause was very～to her heart. 事业在她的心中至高无上。hold one's life/sb/ideals very～珍视生命/某人/理想;one's～est possessions某人最珍贵的财产;〖同〗precious;

(3) 可爱的(used with “little” and “old” to show fondness) [作attrib]：What a～little child! 多么招人喜欢的小家伙! D～old Paul! 老伙计保罗!

(4) 亲爱的;尊敬的(used as a polite term to address sb by a title or name in writing letters， and (politely or ironically) in speech) [作attrib](通常大写)：D～Sir/Madam! 敬启者(亲爱的先生/太太)! D～Smith/My～Smith/D～Mr Smith! 亲爱的史密斯(先生)! D～Mum/sister (My～Mum/sister)! 亲爱的妈妈/妹妹! My～fellow， I really am sorry! 老兄，我真是非常抱歉! Don't talk nonsense， my～men.老兄们，别说废话啦。〖同〗loved， beloved， esteemed， respected;

(5)(昂)贵的(expensive; high in price) [通常作pred](BrE)：Cabbages are/Fruit is～at this time of year. 卷心菜/水果在这个季节很贵。(diamonds) be very/too～(for sb) (钻石)(对某人来说)很/太贵;It's too～; I can't afford it. 这太贵了，我买不起。～houses昂贵的房子;That shop is too～for us. 那家商店的东西对我们来说太贵了。a～shop/price 索价很高的商店/昂贵的代价;～money 高利钱;〖同〗expensive， costly; high-priced;〖反〗inexpensive， cheap， low-priced;

→′dearly adv 深情地;昂贵地;′dearness n 昂贵;′dearest n 最亲爱的;

adv昂贵地(at a high cost)：buy/sell sth～高价买/卖;pay～for a mistake 因一错误付出了巨大代价;The mistake/decision/fame cost him～. 那错误/决定/声誉使他付出了昂贵的代价。

n(1) 亲爱的人(person who is dearly loved or lovable) [C]：You're a～to help me do the work. 你真可爱，帮我干这件活儿。Be a～and give it to me， won't you? 乖乖，给我那个，好吗? Isn't she a～! 她岂不是个可爱的人儿! Aren't they～s! 他们岂不可爱! my own～我自己的心肝宝贝;the poor～可怜的人儿;He is such a～. 他真可爱。

(2) 亲爱的(used to address sb one is fond of， esp sb to whom one is married) [C]：Yes/No，(my)～.是的/不，亲爱的。Come in，(my)～.进来，亲爱的。Now， my～s， come with me. 亲爱的，跟我来。Mary， my～， is that you? 玛丽，亲爱的，是你吗? Hello，～. 喂，亲爱的。〖同〗darling， sweetheart， love， angel;

→′dearly，′dearie n 小娃娃(小伙子);

interj 哎呀，啊(used to express surprise， sorrow， distress， slight anger， discouragement， impatience， etc)：Oh～， my head aches/I'm late. 啊，我头痛死了/迟到了! D～me! What a mess! 哎呀，这么乱! D～! D～! I've got lost. 哎呀呀，我迷路了。