1
- (of an object, substance, or resource) of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly（物体, 物质, 资源）贵重的; 珍贵的, 宝贵的：
precious works of art
艺术珍品
my time's precious.
我的时间很宝贵。
1.1
- greatly loved or treasured by someone珍爱的, 心爱的：
look after my daughter - she's very precious to me.
好好照顾我女儿——她是我的宝贝。
1.2
- attrib. informal used to express the speaker's contempt for someone or something greatly valued by another person〈非正式〉宝贝似的（说话者表示对别人所珍视的人或物的蔑视）：
you and your precious schedule - you've got to lighten up!
你和你那宝贝日程表——你真该放松点了！
1.3
- attrib. informal used for emphasis, often in an ironic context〈非正式〉［用于强调, 常含讽刺］非常, 极其：
a precious lot you know about dogs!
你对狗了解得真够多的！
2
- derogatory affectedly concerned with elegant or refined behaviour, language, or manners〈贬〉故作风雅的; 矫揉造作的：
his exaggerated, precious manner.
他那夸张, 故作风雅的举止。
- used as a term of address to a beloved person（用作称呼）宝贝; 亲爱的：
don't be frightened, my precious.
宝贝, 别怕。
短语
precious little/few
- extremely little or few (used for emphasis)极少的（用作强调）：
police still know precious little about the dead man.
警察对那死去的男子仍然所知无几。
派生词
preciously
adverbpreciousness
noun词源
Middle English: from Old French precios, from Latin pretiosus 'of great value'， from pretium 'price'.