se ‧ vere S3 W3 /səˈvɪə, sɪˈvɪə $ -ˈvɪr/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: French ; Origin: sévère , from Latin severus ]
1 . VERY SERIOUS severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc are very bad or very serious:
His injuries were quite severe.
She’s suffering from severe depression.
The US faces severe economic problems.
The storm caused severe damage.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say an injury, a problem etc is serious rather than severe :
▪
His injuries were quite serious.
2 . WEATHER severe weather is very bad and very extreme, and very hot, dry, cold etc
3 . PUNISHMENT a severe punishment is very strict or extreme:
Drug smugglers can expect severe penalties.
4 . CRITICISM severe criticism is very extreme and shows that you think someone has done something very badly:
The president came under severe criticism for his handling of the crisis.
5 . DIFFICULT very difficult and needing a lot of effort and skill:
The negotiations will be a severe test of his abilities.
6 . PERSON someone who is severe behaves in a way that does not seem friendly or sympathetic, and is very strict or disapproving SYN stern :
His slightly severe expression softened.
7 . PLAIN very plain with little or no decoration:
a rather severe red-brick building
—severity /səˈverəti, sɪˈverəti/ noun [uncountable and countable] :
We didn’t realize the severity of her illness.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ severe damage
The blast caused severe damage to the surrounding buildings.
▪ severe problems/difficulties
The clothing industry has experienced severe problems in recent years.
▪ a severe injury/illness
She had suffered severe head injuries.
▪ severe pain
He was in severe pain and unable to call for help.
▪ severe depression
He suffered from severe depression when he was younger.
▪ a severe case (=of a medical condition)
Hospitalization is necessary in severe cases.
▪ a severe blow (=an event that has a very bad effect)
The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.