/ driːm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a series of images, events and feelings that happen in your mind while you are asleep :
I had a vivid dream about my old school.
I thought someone came into the bedroom, but it was just a dream.
'Goodnight. Sweet dreams.'
—compare nightmare
—see also wet dream
2.
[ C ] a wish to have or be sth, especially one that seems difficult to achieve :
Her lifelong dream was to be a famous writer.
He wanted to be rich but it was an impossible dream.
If I win, it will be a dream come true .
She tried to turn her dream of running her own business into reality.
a dream car / house / job, etc.
I've finally found the man of my dreams .
a chance to fulfil a childhood dream
It was the end of all my hopes and dreams.
—see also pipe dream
3.
[ sing. ] a state of mind or a situation in which things do not seem real or part of normal life :
She walked around in a dream all day.
—see also daydream
4.
[ sing. ] ( informal ) a beautiful or wonderful person or thing :
That meal was an absolute dream.
•
IDIOMS
- go / work like a dream
- in your dreams
- like a bad dream
—more at wild adjective
■ verb ( dreamt , dreamt / dremt; NAmE /) or ( dreamed , dreamed )
1.
dream (of / about sb/sth) to experience a series of images, events and feelings in your mind while you are asleep :
[ v ]
Did I talk in my sleep? I must have been dreaming.
I dreamt about you last night.
[ vn ]
Did it really happen or did I just dream it?
[ v ( that )]
I dreamt (that) I got the job.
2.
dream (of / about sth) | dream (of / about doing sth) to imagine and think about sth that you would like to happen :
[ v ]
She dreams of running her own business.
It was the kind of trip most of us only dream about.
( informal )
I wouldn't dream of going without you (= I would never go without you) .
[ vn ]
Who'd have dreamt it? They're getting married.
[ v ( that )]
I never dreamt (that) I'd actually get the job.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- dream sth away
- dream on
- dream sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : of Germanic origin, related to Dutch droom and German Traum , and probably also to Old English drēam joy, music .