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thirst

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thirst

  [thurst] ,
Use thirst in a Sentence
–noun
1. a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat caused by need of liquid.
2. the physical condition resulting from this need, in any of various degrees: They almost died of thirst.
3. strong or eager desire; craving: a thirst for knowledge.
–verb (used without object)
4. to feel thirst; be thirsty.
5. to have a strong desire.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME thirsten (v.), OE thyrstan, deriv. of thurst (n.); c. D dorst, G Durst, ON thorsti, Goth thaurstei; n. has -i- from the v. or from thirsty; see toast 1

Related forms:
thirster, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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thirst   (thûrst)   
n.  

    1. A sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat related to a need or desire to drink.

    2. The desire to drink.

  2. An insistent desire; a craving: a thirst for knowledge.

intr.v.   thirst·ed, thirst·ing, thirsts

  1. To feel a need to drink.

  2. To have a strong craving; yearn.


[Middle English, from Old English thurst; see ters- in Indo-European roots.]
thirst'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

thirst  (n.)
O.E. þurst, from W.Gmc. *thurstus (cf. O.S. thurst, Fris. torst, Du. dorst, O.H.G., Ger. durst), from P.Gmc. *thurs-, from PIE base *ters- "dry" (see terrain). Fig. sense of "vehement desire" is attested from c.1200. The verb is O.E. þyrstan; the fig. sense of the verb was present in O.E. Thirsty is O.E. þurstig.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: thirst
Pronunciation: 'th&rst
Function: noun
: a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids;also : the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

thirst (thûrst)
n.

  1. A sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat related to a need or desire to drink.

  2. The desire or need to drink.

v. thirst·ed, thirst·ing, thirsts
To feel a need to drink.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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