Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

dear

2 noun
     
dear2 S2 [countable]
1 used when speaking to someone you love:
How did the interview go, dear?
2 spoken used by an older person when speaking in a friendly way to someone who is younger:
Can I help you, dear?
Come along, my dear, take a seat.
3 British English spoken someone who is kind and helpful:
Be a dear and make me a coffee.
4

old dear

British English a fairly rude expression meaning an old woman
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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