Definition of Want

1. Noun. A state of extreme poverty.

Exact synonyms: Deprivation, Neediness, Privation
Generic synonyms: Impoverishment, Poorness, Poverty
Derivative terms: Deprive, Deprive, Needy

2. Verb. Feel or have a desire for; want strongly. "They want him to write the letter"; "I want my own room"

3. Noun. The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable. "For want of a nail the shoe was lost"
Exact synonyms: Deficiency, Lack
Specialized synonyms: Absence, Dearth, Famine, Shortage, Deficit, Mineral Deficiency, Shortness, Stringency, Tightness
Generic synonyms: Demand, Need
Derivative terms: Deficient, Lack

4. Verb. Have need of. "They want to move "; "This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner"
Exact synonyms: Need, Require
Specialized synonyms: Cry
Generic synonyms: Be
Derivative terms: Need, Requirement, Wanter

5. Noun. Anything that is necessary but lacking. "I tried to supply his wants"
Exact synonyms: Need
Generic synonyms: Essential, Necessary, Necessity, Requirement, Requisite
Derivative terms: Need

6. Verb. Hunt or look for; want for a particular reason. "Uncle Sam wants you"
Generic synonyms: Look For, Search, Seek
Derivative terms: Wanter

7. Noun. A specific feeling of desire. "He was above all wishing and desire"
Exact synonyms: Wish, Wishing
Generic synonyms: Desire
Specialized synonyms: Velleity
Derivative terms: Wish, Wish, Wish, Wish, Wish

8. Verb. Wish or demand the presence of. "They want him to write the letter"; "I want you here at noon!"
Generic synonyms: Demand
Derivative terms: Wanter

9. Verb. Be without, lack; be deficient in. "Flood victims wanting food and shelter"
Generic synonyms: Lack, Miss
Derivative terms: Wanter

Definition of Want

1. n. The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.

2. v. t. To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing.

3. v. i. To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; -- often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four.

4. n. The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.

5. v. t. To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing.

6. v. i. To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; -- often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four.

Definition of Want

1. Proper noun. A personification of want. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To wish for or to desire (something). (defdate from 18th c.) ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive now dated) To be lacking, not to exist. (defdate from 13th c.) ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To lack, not to have (something). (defdate from 13th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (transitive colloquially with verbal noun as object) To be in need of; to require (something). (defdate from 15th c.) ¹

6. Noun. A desire, wish, longing. ¹

7. Noun. (countable often followed by (term of)) Lack, absence. ¹

8. Noun. Poverty. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Want

1. to have a desire for [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Want

1. 1. To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four. "The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are all before it; where any of those are wanting or imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the imitation of human life." (Dryden) 2. To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack. "You have a gift, sir (thank your education), Will never let you want." (B. Jonson) "For as in bodies, thus in souls, we find What wants in blood and spirits, swelled with wind." (Pope) Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect object. "Him wanted audience." Origin: Icel. Vanta to be wanting. See Want to lack. 1. The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing. "And me, his parent, would full soon devour For want of other prey." (Milton) "From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes." (Rambler) "Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy." (Franklin) 2. Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need. "Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches, as to conceive how others can be in want." (Swift) 3. That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure. "Habitual superfluities become actual wants." (Paley) 4. A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place. Synonym: Indigence, deficiency, defect, destitution, lack, failure, dearth, scarceness. Origin: Originally an adj, from Icel. Vant, neuter of vanr lacking, deficient. See Wane. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Want

wannel
wanner
wanness
wannesses
wannest
wannigan
wannigans
wanning
wannish
wanrestful
wanrufe
wans
wanse
wanspeed
wanst
want (current term)
want-away
want-aways
want ads
want in
want list
want lists
want out
wantage
wantages
wantaway
wantaways
wante
wanted

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