Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly: Describing something that is highly valuable, often due to rarity, cost, or importance.
   • Greatly loved or treasured: Expressing deep affection for someone or something.
   • (Often disapproving) Affectedly or excessively refined, delicate, or sentimental: Describing a manner, style, or performance that is overly artificial in its attempt to be charming or cute.

2. Adverb:

   • Extremely; very (used for emphasis, often ironically): Used to intensify an adjective, frequently suggesting the quality is excessive or troublesome.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Valuable):
  • Diamonds and gold are precious metals and stones.
  • Clean water is a precious resource in the desert.
• Adjective (Loved/Treasured):
  • She keeps her grandmother's letters in a precious box.
  • My family's support is precious to me.
• Adjective (Affected/Over-refined):
  • The actor's precious mannerisms annoyed the critics.
  • He has a precious way of speaking that sounds unnatural.
• Adverb (Extremely):
  • We have precious little money left for the rest of the month.
  • He took precious good care to lock the door.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "My precious": A term of endearment, famously used in J.R.R. Tolkien's by the character Gollum to refer to the One Ring, highlighting obsessive attachment.
  • He held the old coin and whispered, "My precious."
• The adverbial use (precious little/few) is a fixed phrase meaning "very little/few" and is often used to express scarcity or frustration.
  • There's precious little evidence to support that theory.

Variants and Related Words

• Preciously (adverb): In a precious manner.
  • She smiled preciously for the camera.
• Preciousness (noun): The quality of being precious, which can refer to either high value or affected delicacy.
  • The preciousness of the antique was undisputed. (value)
  • I can't stand the preciousness of his artistic style. (affected manner)

Synonyms

• Valuable: Having great worth.
• Cherished: Deeply loved and cared for.
• Dearest: Most loved.
• Costly: Of great price or value.
• Affected: Behaving in an artificial way to impress.

Antonyms

• Worthless: Having no value or use.
• Cheap: Low in cost or value.
• Despised: Looked on with contempt.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Precious metal: Metals of high economic value, like gold and silver.
  • The vault was filled with precious metal.
• Precious stone: A gemstone like a diamond or ruby.
  • Her ring was set with a rare precious stone.
• (As) precious as...: Used in similes to emphasize great value.
  • Time is as precious as gold.

Adjective

1. obviously contrived to charm
   • an insufferably precious performance
   • a child with intolerably cute mannerisms
2. held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature
   • a valued friend
   • precious memories
3. of high worth or cost
   • diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones
4. characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
   • a cherished friend
   • children are precious
   • a treasured heirloom
   • so good to feel wanted

Adverb

1. extremely
   • there is precious little time left