[want] vb [ME, fr. ON vanta; akin to OE wan deficient] vi (13c) 1: to be needy or destitute
2: to have or feel need "never ~s for friends"
3: to be necessary or needed
4: to desire to come, go, or be "the cat ~s in" "~s out of the deal" ~ vt 1: to fail to possess esp. in customary or required amount: lack "the answer ~ed courtesy"
2. a: to have a strong desire for "~ed a chance to rest" b: to have an inclination to: like "say what you ~, he is efficient" 3 a: to have need of: require "the motor ~s a tune-up" b: to suffer from the lack of "thousands still ~ food and shelter"
4: ought--used with the infinitive "you ~ 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 "~ed for murder" syn see desire
[2]want n (14c) 1 a: deficiency, lack "suffers from a ~ 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 syn see poverty