a.

1. 嚴重的；劇烈的；凜冽的
   He has been under a severe strain.

   他一直處在極度緊張狀態之中。

2. 嚴厲的；苛刻的[（+with/on/upon）]
   My uncle became severe when I was late.

   當我遲到時，我的叔父變得嚴厲起來。

3. 嚴格的；嚴密的
   I was impressed by his severe reasoning.

   他嚴謹的推理給我留下了深刻的印象。

4. 嚴峻的；艱難的；激烈的
   We are suffering from a severe shortage of fuel.

   我們苦於嚴重缺乏燃料。

5. 嚴肅的，正經的
   He spoke in a severe voice.

   他嚴肅地說。

6. 純潔的；樸素的
   She wore a severe black dress.

   她穿一件樸素的黑衣裙。

adj.

1. (of something bad, undesirable, or difficult) very great; intense.
2. strict or harsh.
3. very plain in style or appearance.