DEADLY


Meaning of DEADLY in English

/ ˈdedli; NAmE / adjective , adverb

■ adjective ( dead·lier , dead·li·est )

HELP NOTE : More deadly and deadliest are the usual forms. You can also use most deadly .

1.

causing or likely to cause death

SYN lethal :

a deadly weapon / disease

deadly poison

The cobra is one of the world's deadliest snakes.

The terrorists have chosen to play a deadly game with the civilian population.

2.

[ only before noun ] extreme; complete :

I'm in deadly earnest .

We sat in deadly silence .

They are deadly enemies (= are full of hatred for each other) .

3.

extremely effective, so that no defence is possible :

His aim is deadly (= so accurate that he can kill easily) .

It was the deadly striker's 11th goal of the season.

4.

( informal ) very boring :

The lecture was absolutely deadly.

■ adverb

1.

( informal ) extremely :

deadly serious / dull

2.

= deathly :

deadly pale / cold

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English dēadlīc mortal, in danger of death (see dead , -ly ).

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.