precious: Meaning and Definition of

pre•cious

1. of high price or great value; very valuable or costly: precious metals.
2. highly esteemed for some spiritual, nonmaterial, or moral quality: precious memories.
3. dear; beloved: a precious child.
4. affectedly or excessively delicate, refined, or nice: precious manners.
5. flagrant; gross: a precious fool.

1. a dearly beloved person; darling.

1. extremely; very: She wastes precious little time.