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desire

de·sire

desire

 
 
pronunciation:
dih zaIr
parts of speech:
verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: verb
inflections: desires, desiring, desired
definition: to want or wish for.
A new bicycle was what she desired.
synonyms:
want, wish for
similar words:
care, covet, crave, fancy, hanker for, hunger, long for, lust, prefer
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a wish or longing.
She has always had a desire to travel and see the world.
synonyms:
hope, want, wish, yen
similar words:
ambition, appetite, hunger, itch, longing, lust, mind, need, preference, thirst
definition 2: someone or something desired or wished for.
Her greatest desire was to be an actress.
synonyms:
hope, want, wish
similar words:
ambition, necessity, need, preference, prize, requirement
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
Word History
Desire comes from desiderare, a Latin word that means "to await what the stars will bring." The Latin word siderus means "star or heavenly body." Sometimes people wish upon a star for what they most desire.
Word Builder: desire +
  • desirable:
    pleasing or attractive.
Word Explorer
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  mind