English Dictionary
Definition of “precious”
precious (ˈprɛʃəs
)
Definitions
adjective
- beloved; dear; cherished
- very costly or valuable
- held in high esteem, esp in moral or spiritual matters
- very fastidious or affected, as in speech, manners, etc
- informal worthless ⇒
you and your precious ideas!
adverb
- informal (intensifier) ⇒
there's precious little left
Alternative Forms
ˈpreciously adverb ˈpreciousness noun Word Origin
C13: from Old French precios, from Latin pretiōsus valuable, from pretium price, value
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
valuable,
expensive,
rare,
fine,
choice,
prized,
dear,
costly,
high-priced,
exquisite,
invaluable,
priceless,
recherché,
inestimable,
=
loved,
valued,
favourite,
prized,
dear,
dearest,
treasured,
darling,
beloved,
adored,
cherished,
fave,
idolized,
worth your or its weight in gold
Translations
- British English:
precious
If you say that something such as a resource is precious, you mean that it is valuable and should not be wasted or used badly.A family holiday allows you to spend precious time together.ˈprɛʃəs ADJECTIVE A family holiday allows you to spend precious time together.
- Spanish:
precioso
adj preciosa
- French:
précieux
adj
- German:
kostbar
adj
- Chinese: 宝贵的 adj
- Arabic: نَفِيس n
- Portuguese: precioso adj preciosa
- Russian: драгоценный adj драгоценная
- Croatian: dragocjen adj dragocjena
- Czech: cenný adj
- Danish: dyrebar adj
- Dutch: kostbaar adj
- Finnish: arvokas adj
- Greek: πολύτιμος adj πολύτιμη
- Italian: prezioso adj preziosa
- Japanese: 貴重な no_posp
- Korean: 소중한 adj
- Norwegian: verdifull adj
- Polish: cenny adj cenna
- Brazilian Portuguese: precioso adj preciosa
- European Spanish:
precioso
adj preciosa
- Swedish: dyrbar adj dyrbart
- Thai: ล้ำค่า adj
- Turkish: değerli adj
- Vietnamese: quý adj
Usage examples
Reliving the last experience in words is merely occupying precious time which could better be devoted to looking forward to the next one.
Anthony Masters, CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)For some while, no one was allowed to buy his precious plants, despite lucrative offers.
Country Life (2004)They become caught up in a sense that their love is uniquely intimate and precious.
Globe and Mail (2003)Spectacular in death, he lay in a stone chamber tomb surrounded by more than 1000 precious relics.
Glasgow Herald (2001)There was precious little humour, or even conversation, in her.
Anne Bennett, WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS (2002)
