What part of speech is the word dear?

The word "dear" can be several parts of speech depending on its context:

* Adjective: This is the most common usage, meaning "beloved" or "precious," like in "My dear friend."

* Interjection: This is used as a greeting or expression of affection, like in "Dear me, what a mess!"

* Noun: This is less common but can be used to refer to a loved one, like in "My dears, let's have dinner."

To determine the correct part of speech, you need to consider the context of the sentence.