Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definition of grief noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grief

noun
grief pronunciation English ɡriːf grief pronunciation American ɡriːf
 
1 [uncountable, countable] grief (over/at something) a feeling of great sadness, especially when somebody diesShe was overcome with grief when her husband died.They were able to share their common joys and griefs.2 [countable, usually singular] something that causes great sadnessIt was a grief to them that they had no children.3 [uncountable] (informal) problems and worryHe caused his parents a lot of grief.
Idioms

come to grief

(informal)1 to end in total failureAll his schemes for making money seem to come to grief.2 to be harmed in an accidentSeveral pedestrians came to grief on the icy pavement.

give somebody grief (about/over something)

(informal) to be annoyed with somebody and criticize their behaviour

good grief!

(informal) used to express surprise or shockGood grief! What a mess!