dies meaning and definition in german

In the nominative and accusative neuter, the forms dieses and dies are per se interchangeable. However, there is a tendency to use dieses in some contexts, and dies in others:
In adjectival usage dieses is generally preferred over dies. Thus: dieses Haus ("this house") is more frequent than the also correct and synonymic dies Haus.
In substantival usage, dieses is used referring to a specific neuter noun given earlier in the text:
Unser Unternehmen sollte das Gebäude verkaufen. Wir können dieses nicht mehr gebrauchen.
Our company should sell the building. We cannot make use of it anymore.
Dies is used referring to a preceding context or phrase:
Unser Unternehmen sollte das Gebäude verkaufen. Dies würde uns viel Geld einbringen.
Our company should sell the building. This would earn us a lot of money.
Dies is also used to refer to something perceived sensuously by the speaker (deixis):
Sieh dir dies mal an! – Have a look at this! (e.g. a newspaper article)
The above rules are followed mainly in formal speech and writing. Colloquially, the shorter dies is often preferred. (Moreover, the pronouns das and es are often used instead.)