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desire
8 dictionary results for: Desire
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·sire 
[di-zahyuhr] Pronunciation Key verb, -sired, -sir·ing, noun
—Related forms
[di-zahyuhr] Pronunciation Key verb, -sired, -sir·ing, noun –verb (used with object)
–noun
| 1. | to wish or long for; crave; want. |
| 2. | to express a wish to obtain; ask for; request: The mayor desires your presence at the next meeting. |
| 3. | a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment: a desire for fame. |
| 4. | an expressed wish; request. |
| 5. | something desired. |
| 6. | sexual appetite or a sexual urge. |
—Related forms
de·sired·ness, noun
de·sire·less, adjective
de·sir·er, noun
de·sir·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. covet, fancy. See wish. 2. solicit. 3. aspiration, hunger, appetite, thirst. 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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| de·sire
(dĭ-zīr') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·sired, de·sir·ing, de·sires
n.
[Middle English desiren, from Old French desirer, from Latin dēsīderāre : dē-, de- + sīdus, sīder-, star.] de·sir'er n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to have a strong longing for: desire peace; coveted the new convertible; craving fame and fortune; wanted a drink of water; got all she wished. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
desire
desire
c.1230, from O.Fr. desirer, from L. desiderare "long for, wish for," original sense perhaps "await what the stars will bring," from the phrase de sidere "from the stars," from sidus (gen. sideris) "heavenly body, star, constellation" (but see consider). Noun sense of "lust" is first recorded c.1340.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| desire | |
noun | |
| 1. | the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state |
| 2. | an inclination to want things; "a man of many desires" |
| 3. | something that is desired |
verb | |
| 1. | feel or have a desire for; want strongly; "I want to go home now"; "I want my own room" |
| 2. | expect and wish; "I trust you will behave better from now on"; "I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise" [syn: hope] |
| 3. | express a desire for |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: de·sire
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·sired; de·sir·ing
: to wish for earnestly —see also PRECATORY
NOTE: Courts have variously interpreted desire in wills to indicate either a direction of the testator that must be followed or merely an expression of what the testator hoped would happen.
Main Entry: de·sire
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·sired; de·sir·ing
: to wish for earnestly —see also PRECATORY
NOTE: Courts have variously interpreted desire in wills to indicate either a direction of the testator that must be followed or merely an expression of what the testator hoped would happen.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Desire
De*sire"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.] [F. d['e]sirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal.]1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet. Neither shall any man desire thy land. --Ex. xxxiv. 24. Ye desire your child to live. --Tennyson. 2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? --2 Kings iv. 28. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. --Shak. 3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.] A doleful case desires a doleful song. --Spenser. 4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.] She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. --Jer. Taylor. Syn: To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. Usage: To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than in wish. "I wish you to do this" is a milder form of command than "I desire you to do this," though the feeling prompting the injunction may be the same. --C. J. Smith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Desire
De*sire"\, n. [F. d['e]sir, fr. d['e]sirer. See Desire, v. t.]1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Unspeakable desire to see and know. --Milton. 2. An expressed wish; a request; petition. And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire. --Tennyson. 3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing. The Desire of all nations shall come. --Hag. ii. 7. 4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite. 5. Grief; regret. [Obs.] --Chapman. Syn: Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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