(~er, ~est, ~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to describe someone or something that you feel affection for.
Mrs Cavendish is a ~ friend of mine...
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
If something is ~ to you or ~ to your heart, you care deeply about it.
This is a subject very ~ to the hearts of academics up and down the country.
ADJ: v-link ADJ to n
3.
You use ~ in expressions such as ‘my ~ fellow’, ‘~ girl’, or ‘my ~ Richard’ when you are addressing someone whom you know and are fond of. You can also use expressions like this in a rude way to indicate that you think you are superior to the person you are addressing. (BRIT)
Of course, Toby, my ~ fellow, of course...
ADJ: ADJ n feelings
4.
Dear is written at the beginning of a letter, followed by the name or title of the person you are writing to.
Dear Peter, I have been thinking about you so much during the past few days...
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
In British English, you begin formal letters with ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Madam’. In American English, you begin them with ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’. (WRITTEN)
‘Dear sir,’ she began.
CONVENTION
6.
You can call someone ~ as a sign of affection.
You’re a lot like me, ~...
N-VOC feelings
7.
You can use ~ in expressions such as ‘oh ~’, ‘~ me’, and ‘~, ~’ when you are sad, disappointed, or surprised about something.
‘Oh ~, oh ~.’ McKinnon sighed. ‘You, too.’
EXCLAM feelings
8.
If you say that something is ~, you mean that it costs a lot of money, usually more than you can afford or more than you think it should cost. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
CDs here are much ~er than in the States...
= expensive
? cheap
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ disapproval
9.
If something that someone does costs them ~, they suffer a lot as a result of it.
Such complacency is costing the company ~.
PHRASE: V inflects