Words / A1

DEER/dɪə/

Start a letter with Dear plus a name: Dear Ali, Dear Sir or Madam. Dear also means loved, or expensive in older British talk (That coat is dear). Deer is the animal in the forest — same sound, different spelling.

Meaning

Used at the start of a letter; also loved, or expensive.

Examples

• “Dear Ali, how are you?”
• “Dear Sam, thank you for your email.”
• “She is a dear friend of mine.”

Good to know

Dear + name (letters). Mix-up: deer (animal). Also: loved.

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