transitive verb

1. to have too little of; be deficient in; lack
2. to be short by (a specified amount) it wants twelve minutes of midnight
3. to feel the need of; long for; crave to want adventure
4. to desire; wish or long: followed by the infinitive to want to travel
5. 1. to wish to see or speak with (someone) wanted on the phone
   2. to wish to apprehend, as for questioning or arrest wanted by the police
6. Chiefly Brit. to require; need this wants attending to

Etymology: ME wanten < ON vanta, to be lacking, want: see wantthe

intransitive verb

1. to have a need or lack: usually with for to want for money
2. to lack the necessities of life; be destitute or impoverished “Waste not, want not”
3. Rare to be lacking or missing for completeness or a certain result there wants but his approval

noun

1. the state or fact of lacking, or having too little of, something needed or desired; scarcity; shortage; lack to suffer from want of adequate care
2. a lack of the necessities of life; poverty; destitution to live in want
3. a wish or desire for something; craving
4. something needed or desired but lacking; need

Etymology: ME < ON vant, neut. of vanr, deficient < IE base *(e)wā-, to lack > L vanus, empty