1pre·cious 
/ˈprɛʃəs/ adjective
/ˈprɛʃəs/ adjective [more precious; most precious] 1 : rare and worth a lot of money
▪ diamonds and other precious stones ▪ precious jewels/jewelry ◊A precious metal is an expensive metal (such as gold) that is used especially for jewelry. — see also semiprecious 2 : very valuable or important : too valuable or important to be wasted or used carelessly
▪ We can save precious time by taking this shortcut. ▪ They were able to be together for only a few precious hours/days. ▪ precious resources 3 : greatly loved, valued, or important
▪ precious memories ▪ the family's most precious moments ▪ a very precious [=dear] friend 4 US, informal : having a very pleasing and usually youthful appearance or quality : cute
▪ Aren't those children precious? 5 formal + disapproving : having a too careful, precise, or polite quality that seems false or annoying
▪ The sometimes precious writing makes the book difficult to read. ▪ precious manners
▪ diamonds and other precious stones ▪ precious jewels/jewelry ◊A precious metal is an expensive metal (such as gold) that is used especially for jewelry. — see also semiprecious
▪ We can save precious time by taking this shortcut. ▪ They were able to be together for only a few precious hours/days. ▪ precious resources
▪ precious memories ▪ the family's most precious moments ▪ a very precious [=dear] friend
▪ Aren't those children precious?
▪ The sometimes precious writing makes the book difficult to read. ▪ precious manners
— pre·cious·ly adverb
▪ a somewhat preciously written book ▪ We have preciously [=precious] little time left.
▪ a somewhat preciously written book ▪ We have preciously [=precious] little time left.
— pre·cious·ness noun [noncount]
▪ The preciousness of the writing annoys me.
▪ The preciousness of the writing annoys me.
