- want
- want [wänt, wônt]vt.[ME wanten < ON vanta, to be lacking, want: see WANT the n.]1. to have too little of; be deficient in; lack2. to be short by (a specified amount) [it wants twelve minutes of midnight]3. to feel the need of; long for; crave [to want adventure]4. to desire; wish or long: followed by the infinitive [to want to travel]5.a) to wish to see or speak with (someone) [wanted on the phone]b) to wish to apprehend, as for questioning or arrest [wanted by the police]6. Chiefly Brit. to require; need [this wants attending to]: Want is also used informally as an auxiliary meaning ought or should [ you want to be careful crossing streets ]vi.1. to have a need or lack: usually with for [to want for money]2. to lack the necessities of life; be destitute or impoverished [“Waste not, want not”]3. Rare to be lacking or missing for completeness or a certain result [there wants but his approval]n.[ME < ON vant, neut. of vanr, deficient < IE base * (e)wā-, to lack > L vanus, empty]1. the state or fact of lacking, or having too little of, something needed or desired; scarcity; shortage; lack [to suffer from want of adequate care]2. a lack of the necessities of life; poverty; destitution [to live in want]3. a wish or desire for something; craving4. something needed or desired but lacking; needSYN.- DESIRE, LACK, POVERTY——————want in or want out or want offInformal to want to get, go, or come in (or out, off, etc.)wantern.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.