- de|sire
-
–n.1. a wanting or longing; strong wish: »
His desire is to travel. His predominant passion was desire of money (Samuel Johnson).
3. a thing wished for: »His greatest desire was a bicycle. The desire of all nations is peace.
4. sensual appetite; lust.–v.t.1. to wish earnestly for; long for: »The orphan desired love and approval.
SYNONYM(S): long, yearn, crave. See syn. under wish. (Cf. ↑wish)2. to express a wish for; ask for: »The principal desires your presence in his office. I desired a room for the night.
3. Archaic. to miss; regret the loss of.4. Obsolete. to invite.–v.i.╂[< Old French desirer < Latin dēsīderāre long for; (originally) to await the fate which the stars bring < dē- from + sīdus, -eris constellation. See etym. of doublet desiderate. (Cf. ↑desiderate)]–de|sir´er, noun.Synonym Study noun. 1 Desire, longing, craving mean a strong wish. Desire applies to any strong wish, good or bad, for something a person thinks or hopes he can get: »She felt a great desire to see her birthplace again.
Longing applies to an earnest or enduring desire, sometimes for something a person thinks he can get if he tries or wishes hard enough, but often for something that seems beyond reach: »the longing for the return of spring. His longing for a bicycle is pathetic.
Craving applies to a desire so strong that it amounts to a need or hunger: »a craving for excitement, a craving for candy.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
