{
    "term": "severe",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "extremely bad or serious",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "His **injuries** are **severe**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**severe pain/depression/asthma**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **severe illness/disease**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**severe weather/storms**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a severe winter *(= one during which the weather conditions are extremely bad)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The fire has caused **severe damage** to the building."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The victim suffered severe brain damage."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **severe shortage** of qualified staff"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The party suffered severe losses during the last election."
                },
                {
                    "text": "severe symptoms"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a severe case of woodworm"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Strikes are causing severe disruption to all train services."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If the pain becomes severe, you may wish to contact a doctor."
                },
                {
                    "text": "women affected by mild to moderately severe symptoms"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an exceptionally severe frost"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A severe storm blew the ship off course."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Priority will be given to those at risk of developing severe symptoms if they contract Covid-19."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The sector is suffering from chronic underfunding and severe staffing shortages."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Health problems"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "seem", "sound"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "punishing somebody in an extreme way when they break a particular set of rules",
            "sensetop": "severe on/with somebody",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a severe punishment/sentence/penalty"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The courts are becoming more severe on young offenders.",
                    "contextForm": "severe on/with somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her parents were never so severe with her older brother."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Anyone found using drugs will receive severe punishment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He received a severe reprimand for his behaviour."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These women have to endure poor living conditions, low pay and severe discipline."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "harsh"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "not kind or showing sympathy; not smiling or showing approval",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a severe expression"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He fixed them with a very severe look."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was a severe woman who seldom smiled."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "stern"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "extremely difficult and requiring a lot of skill or ability",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The marathon is a severe test of stamina."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "stiff"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "extremely plain and without any decoration",
            "labels": "(disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Modern furniture is a little too severe for my taste."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her hair was short and severe."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was wearing a severe dark grey jacket."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɪˈvɪə(r)/",
                "audio": "se/severe/severe__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɪˈvɪr/",
                "audio": "se/severe/severe__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "mid 16th cent. (in sense (2)): from French sévère or Latin severus."
}