Collins English-English Dictionary

fear [fɪə]

1. 1. n a feeling of distress, apprehension, or alarm caused by impending danger, pain, etc

2. 2. n a cause of this feeling

3. 3. n awe; reverence

   fear of God

4. 4. n concern; anxiety

5. 5. n possibility; chance

   there is no fear of that happening

6. 6. vb to be afraid (to do something) or of (a person or thing); dread

7. 7. vt. [tr] to revere; respect

8. 8. vt. [tr; takes a clause as object] to be sorry: used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement

   I fear that you have not won

9. 9. vi. [intr; foll by for] to feel anxiety about something

10. 10. vi. an archaic word for frighten

11. 11. vi. [Etymology] Old English fær; related to Old High German fara, Old Norse far hostility, Latin periculum danger