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# precious

adjective (precious); adverb (precious little / few — informal)

«precious» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Precious means very valuable, worth a lot of money («precious stones», «precious metals»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#m1)
2. Precious means very important and loved, not to be wasted or lost («precious memories», «time is precious»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#m2)
3. Informally, precious can mean too fussy or delicate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#m3)
4. «Precious little» means very little. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science and geography «precious metals» (gold, silver, platinum) and «precious stones» (diamonds, rubies) are rare and valuable. In everyday life and stories it shows how much something is loved: a precious toy, a precious pet, precious water in a desert. Phrases: «precious stones», «precious time», «my precious».

### Examples

- Gold and silver are precious metals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x1)
- Water is precious in the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x2)
- This old photo is precious to Grandma. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x3)
- Diamonds and rubies are precious stones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x4)
- Don't waste precious time; start your homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x5)
- The baby is very precious to her parents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x6)
- There is precious little food left in the fridge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x7)
- The dragon guarded its precious treasure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x8)
- Just see those precious stones lying there! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/#x9)

### Note

No comparative ending: use «more precious», «most precious». Trap: «precious little» means almost none. «Precious» things may be valuable for love, not money.

## In Jewish tradition

Moses' blessing is read as showing that the land's riches are blessings from God, given tribe by tribe. Job says God Himself can be precious silver to the one who returns to Him. In the primary lessons: In science and geography «precious metals» (gold, silver, platinum) and «precious stones» (diamonds, rubies) are rare and valuable. In everyday life and stories it shows how much something is loved: a precious toy, a precious pet, precious water in a desert. Phrases: «precious stones», «precious time», «my precious».

### Examples

- And for the tops of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the everlasting hills, (Torah DEU.33.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x1)
- And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, and for the precious things of the yield of the moons, (Torah DEU.33.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x2)
- And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the LORD be his land; for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, (Torah DEU.33.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x3)
- Dedan was thy trafficker in precious cloths for riding. (Prophets EZK.27.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x4)
- And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee; (Writings JOB.22.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x5)
- Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits. (Writings SNG.4.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/#x6)

### Note

No comparative ending: use «more precious», «most precious». Trap: «precious little» means almost none. «Precious» things may be valuable for love, not money.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «precious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precious/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«precious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/precious.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «precious» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/precious/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«precious» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/precious.html) on Mova free.