n.
Pronunciation: ' wo ̇ nt also ' wänt & ' w ə nt
Function: 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 want s for friends>
3 : to be necessary or needed
4 : to desire to come, go, or be <the cat want s in> < want s out of the deal>
transitive verb
1 : to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount : LACK <the answer want ed courtesy>
2 a : to have a strong desire for < want ed 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 want s 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 < want ed for murder>
synonyms see DESIRE