want

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse vanta; akin to Old English wan deficient Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. to be needy or destitute 2. to have or feel need <

never wants for friends

> 3. to be necessary or needed 4. to desire to come, go, or be <

the cat wants in

> <

wants out of the deal

> transitive verb 1. to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount ; lack <

the answer wanted courtesy

> 2. a. to have a strong desire for <

wanted a chance to rest

> b. to have an inclination to ; like <

say what you want, he is efficient

> 3. a. to have need of ; require <

the motor wants a tune-up

> b. to suffer from the lack of <

thousands still want food and shelter

> 4. ought — used with the infinitive <

you want to be very careful what you say — Claudia Cassidy

> 5. to wish or demand the presence of 6. to hunt or seek in order to apprehend <

wanted for murder

> Synonyms: see desire II. noun Date: 13th century 1. a. deficiency, lack <

suffers from a want of good sense

> b. grave and extreme poverty that deprives one of the necessities of life 2. something wanted ; need, desire 3. personal defect ; fault Synonyms: see poverty