/ griːf; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] grief (over / at sth) a feeling of great sadness, especially when sb dies :
She was overcome with grief when her husband died.
They were able to share their common joys and griefs.
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] something that causes great sadness :
It was a grief to them that they had no children.
3.
[ U ] ( informal ) problems and worry :
He caused his parents a lot of grief.
•
IDIOMS
- come to grief
- give sb grief (about / over sth)
- good grief!
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French grief , from grever to burden, based on Latin gravare , from gravis heavy, grave.