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need
The definition of a need is a desire or requirement.
(noun)- An example of a need is the desire for a fast Internet connection.
- An example of a need is food and water for survival.
Need is defined as to want, desire or require.
(verb)- An example of need is wanting a new pair of shoes because they're your favorite.
- An example of need is requiring a pair of shoes because you don't have any.
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See need in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- necessity or obligation created by some situation: no need to worry
- a lack of something useful, required, or desired: to have need of a rest
- something useful, required, or desired that is lacking; want; requirement: list your daily needs
- a condition in which there is a deficiency of something, or one requiring relief or supply: a friend in need
- a condition of poverty, or extreme want
Origin: ME nede < OE nied, akin to Ger not, Goth nauths < IE *neuti- < base *neu-, to collapse with weariness > Welsh newyn, starvation
transitive verb
to have need of; want or lack; require: need is often used as an auxiliary, either uninflected and followed by an infinitive without to, or inflected and followed by an infinitive with to, meaning “to be obliged, must”: he need not come, he needs to be careful
intransitive verb
- Archaic to be necessary; chiefly in impersonal constructions: it needs not
- to be in need
Related Forms:
- needer noun
See need in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A condition or situation in which something is required or wanted: crops in need of water; a need for affection.
- Something required or wanted; a requisite: “Those of us who led the charge for these women's issues … shared a common vision in the needs of women” (Olympia Snowe).
- Necessity; obligation: There is no need for you to go.
- A condition of poverty or misfortune: The family is in dire need.
To be under the necessity of or the obligation to: They need not come.
verb, transitive To have need of; require: The family needs money. See Synonyms at lack.
verb, intransitive- To be in need or want.
- To be necessary.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English nede
Origin: , from Old English nēod, nēd, distress, necessity
. Usage Note: Depending on the sense, the verb need behaves sometimes like an auxiliary verb (such as can or may) and sometimes like a main verb (such as want or try). When used as a main verb, need agrees with its subject, takes to before the verb following it, and combines with do in questions, negations, and certain other constructions: He needs to go. Does he need to go so soon? He doesn't need to go. When used as an auxiliary verb, need does not agree with its subject, does not take to before the verb following it, and does not combine with do: He needn't go. Need he go so soon? The auxiliary forms of need are used primarily in present-tense questions, negations, and conditional clauses. Unlike can and may, auxiliary need has no form for the past tense like could and might.Regional Note: When need is used as the main verb, it can be followed by a present participle, as in The car needs washing, or by to be plus a past participle, as in The car needs to be washed. However, in some areas of the United States, especially western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, many speakers omit to be and use just the past participle form, as in The car needs washed. This use of need with past participles is slightly more common in the British Isles, being particularly prevalent in Scotland.Learn more about need
