Dire

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -aɪə(r)

Origin

From Latin dirus ("fearful, ominous").

Full definition of dire

Adjective

1. Warning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous.
   dire omens
2. Requiring action to prevent bad consequences: urgent, pressing.
   dire need
• 2014-06-14, It's a gas, One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains....But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, means that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair.
3. Expressing bad consequences: dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; lamentable.
   dire consequences;  to be in dire straits
4. (informal) Bad in quality, awful, terrible.
• 2011, December 10, Arindam Rej, Norwich 4-2 Newcastle, A second Norwich goal in four minutes arrived after some dire Newcastle defending. Gosling gave the ball away with a sloppy back-pass, allowing Crofts to curl in a cross that the unmarked Morison powered in with a firm, 12-yard header.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• ired
• Reid
• ride