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definitions

desire

[ dih-zahyuhr ]
/ dɪˈzaɪər /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR desire ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), de·sired, de·sir·ing.

to wish or long for; crave; want.
to express a wish to obtain; ask for; request: The mayor desires your presence at the next meeting.

noun

a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment: a desire for fame.
an expressed wish; request.
something desired.
sexual appetite or a sexual urge.

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RELATED WORDS

lust, eagerness, hunger, fascination, wish, aspiration, thirst, will, yearning, motive, passion, devotion, ambition, need, love, appetite, craving, greed, inclination, appeal

Nearby words

  1. desilver,
  2. desilverize,
  3. desinence,
  4. desipramine,
  5. desirable,
  6. desire under the elms,
  7. desired,
  8. desirous,
  9. desist,
  10. desk

Origin of desire

1200–50; Middle English desiren < Old French desirer < Latin dēsīderāre; see desiderate
Related forms

Synonym study

1. See wish. 3. Desire, craving, longing, yearning suggest feelings that impel one to the attainment or possession of something. Desire is a strong feeling, worthy or unworthy, that impels to the attainment or possession of something that is (in reality or imagination) within reach: a desire for success. Craving implies a deep and imperative wish for something, based on a sense of need and hunger: a craving for food, companionship. A longing is an intense wish, generally repeated or enduring, for something that is at the moment beyond reach but may be attainable at some future time: a longing to visit Europe. Yearning suggests persistent, uneasy, and sometimes wistful or tender longing: a yearning for one's native land.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for desire

British Dictionary definitions for desire

desire

/ (dɪˈzaɪə) /

verb (tr)

to wish or long for; crave; want
to express a wish or make a request for; ask for

noun

a wish or longing; craving
an expressed wish; request
sexual appetite; lust
a person or thing that is desired
Related formsRelated adjective: orectic
Derived Formsdesirer, noun

Word Origin for desire

C13: from Old French desirer, from Latin dēsīderāre to desire earnestly; see desiderate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for desire
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with desire

desire

see leave a lot to be desired.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.