Definition of "fear" in 英语

noun

1. (uncountable) A strong, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

   • He was struck by fear on seeing the snake.

2. (countable) A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone in particular.

   • Not everybody has the same fears.
   • I have a fear of ants.

3. (countable) Something one is afraid of; the object of one’s fear.

   • Spiders are my greatest fear.

4. (uncountable) Terrified veneration or reverence, particularly towards God, gods, or sovereigns.

5. (UK, with definite article, "the fear") A feeling of dread and anxiety when waking after drinking a lot of alcohol, wondering what one did while drunk.

verb

1. (transitive) To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.

   • I fear the worst will happen.

2. (intransitive) To feel fear.

   • Never fear; help is always near.

3. (intransitive) To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for [with for].

   • She fears for her son’s safety.

4. (transitive) To venerate; to feel awe towards.

   • People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.

5. (transitive) To regret.

   • I fear I have bad news for you: your husband has died.

6. (obsolete, transitive) To cause fear to; to frighten.

7. (obsolete, transitive) To be anxious or solicitous for.

8. (obsolete, transitive) To suspect; to doubt.

adjective

1. (dialectal) Able; capable; stout; strong; sound.

   • hale and fear