/ θɜːst; NAmE θɜːrst/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U , sing. ] the feeling of needing or wanting a drink :
He quenched his thirst with a long drink of cold water.
She woke up with a raging thirst and a headache.
2.
[ U ] the state of not having enough water to drink :
Thousands are dying of thirst.
3.
[ sing. ] thirst (for sth) a strong desire for sth
SYN craving :
a thirst for knowledge
■ verb
[ v ] ( old use ) to be thirsty
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PHRASAL VERBS
- thirst for sth
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English thurst (noun), thyrstan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dorst , dorsten and German Durst , dürsten .