Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dread \Dread\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dreaded}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Dreading}.] [AS. dr?dan, in comp.; akin to OS. dr[=a]dan,
   OHG. tr[=a]tan, both only in comp.]
   To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to,
   with terrific apprehension.

         When at length the moment dreaded through so many years
         came close, the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's
         mind.                                    --Macaulay.

Dread \Dread\, v. i.
   To be in dread, or great fear.

         Dread not, neither be afraid of them.    --Deut. i. 29.

Dread \Dread\, n.
   1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension
      of danger; anticipatory terror.

            The secret dread of divine displeasure. --Tillotson.

            The dread of something after death.   --Shak.

   2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe.

            The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon
            every beast of the earth.             --Gen. ix. 2.

            His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The
            attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the
            dread and fear of kings.              --Shak.

   3. An object of terrified apprehension.

   4. A person highly revered. [Obs.] ``Una, his dear dread.''
      --Spenser.

   5. Fury; dreadfulness. [Obs.] --Spenser.

   6. Doubt; as, out of dread. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   Syn: Awe; fear; affright; terror; horror; dismay;
        apprehension. See {Reverence}.

Dread \Dread\, a.
   1. Exciting great fear or apprehension; causing terror;
      frightful; dreadful.

            A dread eternity! how surely mine.    --Young.

   2. Inspiring with reverential fear; awful' venerable; as,
      dread sovereign; dread majesty; dread tribunal.

Source : WordNet®

dread
     adj : causing fear or dread or terror; "the awful war"; "an awful
           risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so direful
           that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of the
           headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it
           once was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling";
           "horrendous explosions shook the city"; "a terrible
           curse" [syn: {awful}, {dire}, {direful}, {dread(a)}, {dreaded},
            {dreadful}, {fearful}, {fearsome}, {frightening}, {horrendous},
            {horrific}, {terrible}]

dread
     n : fearful expectation or anticipation; "the student looked
         around the examination room with apprehension" [syn: {apprehension},
          {apprehensiveness}]

dread
     v : be afraid or scared of; be frightened of; "I fear the
         winters in Moscow"; "We should not fear the Communists!"
         [syn: {fear}]