preciousa.[OF. precious, precius, precios, F. prcieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.]1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone.(Milton.)2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.()She is more precious than rules. (Prov. iii. 15.)Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. (Hooker.)()3. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Prcieuse, Preciosity.()Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. (Chaucer.)Elaborate embroidery of precious language. (Saintsbury.)Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. -- Precious stones, gems; jewels.()