- 1(informal) a kind person Isn't he a dear? Be a dear and fetch me my coat. See related entries: Kind
- 2used when speaking to somebody you love Would you like a drink, dear? Come here, my dear.
- 3used when speaking to somebody in a friendly way, for example by an older person to a young person or a child What's your name, dear? compare duck Word OriginOld English dēore, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier ‘beloved’, also to Dutch duur and German teuer ‘expensive’.
Check pronunciation: dear
