1 (serious) [+problem, consequence, damage] grave; serio The potential [consequences] are quite severe The blast caused severe [damage] and heavy loss of life
[+injury, illness] grave It poses a severe [problem] for the Soviet leadership ...the after-effects of burns and severe [injuries] He suffered severe [burns] to his legs and face ...a severe case of concussion ...recovery from severe [illness]
[+defeat, setback, shortage] serio ...the Communist Party has suffered several severe [defeats] The party suffered a severe setback in the elections ...the severe [shortages] of goods in Romania's shops
[+blow, reprimand] fuerte; duro The death of President Pompidou dealt a severe [blow] to the Gaullists he received a severe reprimand from his commanding officer they were given a severe ticking-off by their form master
[+pain, headache] fuerte Steve passed out on the floor and woke up in severe [pain] there is usually severe abdominal [pain] and diarrhoea The migraines were severe and lasted two to three days at a time
I suffered from severe bouts of depression padecía profundas serias depresiones;or many families suffered severe hardship as a consequence muchas familias sufrieron enormes penurias a consecuencia de ello
a period of severe wage restraint
we have been under severe pressure to cut costs nos han presionado mucho para reducir gastos; to suffer a severe loss of blood sufrir gran pérdida de sangre
the patient has suffered a severe loss of blood and will take some time to recover
severe losses (Economics) enormes cuantiosas pérdidas;or (f)
This may have accounted for our severe [losses]
2 (harsh) [+weather, conditions, winter] duro; riguroso they often faced severe (weather) conditions during their expedition the weather has been most severe in Northern Scotland
[+cold] extremo Birds should be provided with food and water during severe [winter] weather My suffering is aggravated by the severe [cold] * The start of the year brought a very severe [winter]
[+storm, flooding, frost] fuerte ...a particularly severe [storm] ...a severe hurricane ...leaves tough enough to withstand severe [frost] there has been severe flooding in many areas Towns in the eastern part of the country have been cut off by severe flooding
3 (strict) [+person, penalty] severo; [+discipline] estricto She was a harsh mother and imposed severe discipline
I was his severest critic yo era su crítico más severo; to be severe with sb ser severo con algn
I hope the magistrate has not been too severe with him
4 (austere) [+person, appearance, expression] severo; adusto In spite of her severe exterior, she was actually a kind person ...a severe and humourless man She wore a habitually severe [expression] Miss Grant gazed at him in a severe [manner] He spoke to her in a severe [voice]
[+clothes, style] austero Her style of dress was somewhat severe ...a picture of a man in the severe costume of a 17th-century Puritan
[+hairstyle] (de corte) serio she had her hair cut into a severe bob she had always favoured a rather severe hairstyle
[+architecture] sobrio ...severe Romanesque architecture
