dire
[ dahyuh r ]
/ daɪər /
adjective, dir·er, dir·est.
causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible: a dire calamity.
indicating trouble, disaster, misfortune, or the like: dire predictions about the stock market.
urgent; desperate: in dire need of food.
Origin of dire
First recorded in 1560–70,
dire is from the Latin word
dīrus fearful, unlucky
OTHER WORDS FROM dire
dire·ly, adverb dire·ness, nounWords nearby dire
Example sentences from the Web for dire
British Dictionary definitions for dire
dire
/ (daɪə) /
adjective (usually prenominal)
Also: direful
disastrous; fearful
desperate; urgent
a dire need
foreboding disaster; ominous
a dire warning
Derived forms of dire
direly, adverb direness, nounWord Origin for dire
C16: from Latin
dīrus ominous, fearful; related to Greek
deos fear