precious

adj.

1. 珍奇的；珍稀的
   rare and worth a lot of money
   1. a precious vase
      稀世花瓶
   2. The crown was set with precious jewels─diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
      王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝——有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
2. 宝贵的；珍贵的
   valuable or important and not to be wasted
   1. Clean water is a precious commodity in that part of the world.
      在世界的那个地方，洁净的水是宝贵的东西。
   2. You're wasting precious time!
      你在浪费宝贵的时间！
3. 受珍爱的；被珍惜的
   loved or valued very much
   1. precious memories/possessions
      珍贵的回忆 / 财物
4. （表示气愤）宝贝似的
   used to show you are angry that another person thinks sth is very important
   1. I didn't touch your precious car!
      我没碰你那辆宝贝车！
5. 道貌岸然的；矫揉造作的
   very formal, exaggerated and not natural in what you say and do

adv.

1. （强调极少或太少）
   used to emphasize the fact that there is very little of sth or that there are very few of sth
   1. There's precious little to do in this town.
      这个镇上没有多少可做的事。

1. ADJ-GRADED 宝贵的；珍贵的；贵重的
   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.
   1. After four months in foreign parts, every hour at home was precious...
      在国外呆了4个月后，在家的每一刻都是宝贵的。
   2. A family break allows you to spend precious time together...
      家庭度假会让你们一起度过宝贵的时光。
   3. Water is becoming an increasingly precious resource.
      水正成为日益珍贵的资源。
2. ADJ-GRADED 珍奇的；珍稀的
   Precious objects and materials are worth a lot of money because they are rare.
   1. ...jewellery and precious objects belonging to her mother.
      她妈妈的珠宝和珍奇物品
3. ADJ-GRADED 值得珍视的；可贵的；重要的
   If something is precious to you, you regard it as important and do not want to lose it.
   1. Her family's support is particularly precious to Josie...
      家庭的支持对乔茜来说尤为可贵。
   2. Mary left her most precious possession — a small bookcase — to her niece.
      玛丽把她最珍视的财产——一个小书架，留给了她的侄女。
4. ADJ 宝贝似的（强调对别人珍视的东西表示厌恶）
   People sometimes use precious to emphasize their dislike for things which other people think are important.
   1. You don't care about anything but yourself and your precious face.
      你什么都不关心，除了你自己和你那张娇贵的脸。
5. ADJ-GRADED 矫揉造作的；一本正经的
   If you describe someone as precious, you mean that they behave in a formal and unnatural way.
   1. Actors, he decided, were too precious and neurotic.
      他认定演员们太做作，并且都神经兮兮的。
6. PHRASE 一点点；极少
   If you say that there is precious little of something, you are emphasizing that there is very little of it, and that it would be better if there were more. Precious few has a similar meaning.
   1. The banks have had precious little to celebrate recently...
      银行最近没几件值得庆贺的事。
   2. Precious few homebuyers will notice any reduction in their monthly repayments.
      极少数购房者会注意到他们月还款额的减少。

1. There was precious little about the cricket to animate the crowd
   板球比赛能激起观众热情的地方很少。
2. What I'd give to be a fly on the wall when Davis finds out what's happened to his precious cargo.
   我多么希望能够看到戴维斯发现他珍贵的货物出事时的样子啊。
3. With geological maps, books and atlases you can find out all the proven sites of precious minerals.
   有了地质图、书籍和地图册，你便可以找到所有已探明的珍贵矿藏的位置。
4. Husbanding precious resources was part of rural life.
   节约地使用宝贵的资源是乡村生活的一部分。
5. After four months in foreign parts, every hour at home was precious
   在国外呆了4个月后，在家的每一刻都是宝贵的。
6. A family break allows you to spend precious time together
   家庭度假会让你们一起度过宝贵的时光。
7. Water is becoming an increasingly precious resource.
   水正成为日益珍贵的资源。
8. Mary left her most precious possession — a small bookcase — to her niece.
   玛丽把她最珍视的财产——一个小书架，留给了她的侄女。
9. You don't care about anything but yourself and your precious face.
   你什么都不关心，除了你自己和你那张娇贵的脸。
10. Actors, he decided, were too precious and neurotic.
    他认定演员们太做作，并且都神经兮兮的。
11. The banks have had precious little to celebrate recently
    银行最近没几件值得庆贺的事。
12. Precious few homebuyers will notice any reduction in their monthly repayments.
    极少数购房者会注意到他们月还款额的减少。
13. Theismann's precious information came at a price, however.
    不过，泰斯曼付出了代价才得到这些宝贵的信息。
14. Night hours in spring are extremely precious.
    春宵一刻值千金。
15. Time is precious to me.
    我的时间非常珍贵。
16. Don't idle away your precious time.
    别闲磨大好时光！
17. Speed is precious in war.
    兵贵神速。
18. When a thing is scarce, it is precious.
    物以稀为贵。
19. Rain in spring is as precious as oil.
    春雨如膏。
20. Spring rain is as precious as oil.
    春雨贵如油。
21. I feel unworthy of the precious gift you have bestowed on me.
    厚赐受之有愧。
22. A prodigal who returns is more precious than gold.
    浪子回头金不换。
23. My country is rich in cinnamon, cloves, ginger, pepper, and precious stones.
    我国盛产肉桂、丁香、生姜、胡椒和宝石。
24. Time is more precious than anything else.
    时间比什么都宝贵。
25. An inch of land is an inch of gold.& every piece of land is extremely precious.
    寸土寸金。
26. A bag with its precious contents was missing.
    一个装有贵重物品的包不见了。
27. There are three precious things in Northeast china, i.e.ginseng, marten, and Wula sedge.
    东北三宝，人参、貂皮、乌拉草。
28. Time waits for no man; every minute ISAS precious as gold.
    时间不饶人，分秒赛黄金。
29. It's a great pity such precious documents should be cast aside as useless.
    这样珍贵的资料竟被废置，真是太可惜了。
30. You have ruined my precious flower.
    你把我宝贵的花儿都毁了。

  precious costly dear expensive valuable【导航词义：贵重的，昂贵的】

  precious adj. 贵重的

〔辨析〕强调稀有且价值不菲的。

  costly adj. 昂贵的

〔辨析〕较正式用词，指花费太多钱的，尤指超过愿意支付的价钱的。

  dear adj. 〈英〉昂贵的

〔辨析〕指价格贵的，通常作表语。

  expensive adj. 昂贵的

〔辨析〕强调花钱多、价格高的。

  valuable adj. 贵重的

〔辨析〕强调十分值钱的。

adj

1. obviously contrived to charm
   1. an insufferably precious performance
   2. a child with intolerably cute mannerisms

   Synonym:    cute

2. characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
   1. a cherished friend
   2. children are precious
   3. a treasured heirloom
   4. so good to feel wanted

   Synonym:    cherishedtreasuredwanted

3. of high worth or cost
   1. diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones

4. held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature
   1. a valued friend
   2. precious memories

   Synonym:    valued

adv

1. extremely
   1. there is precious little time left

   Synonym:    preciously