thirst

SayTHURST/θɝst/UK/θɜːst/

6 meanings of thirst

1
urge to drinknouncountable or uncountable
The dry feeling in your throat when you want something to drink.
After the long run, I had a terrible thirst.
Nervous before her speech, she felt a sudden thirst and reached for her water.
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2
nounfigurativelyusually singular
A strong wish to have or do something.
She has a thirst for adventure and travels every summer.
His thirst for knowledge kept him reading late into the night.
Similarhunger, craving, desire, longing, yearning
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3
lack of waternoununcountable
The state of needing water, which makes you feel thirsty.
The lost hikers were close to dying of thirst when they were found.
The sick child was weak from thirst, so the nurse gave her small sips of water.
Similardehydration
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4
sexual desirenounfigurativelyusually singular
A strong sexual wish for someone.
She felt a thirst for him that surprised her.
He could not hide his thirst for the woman he had just met.
Similarlust, desire, passion, longing
5
verbintransitive
To be thirsty and need something to drink.
On the long walk home, we thirsted under the hot sun.
The plants thirst in this heat if nobody waters them.
6
long forverbintransitive
To want something very much.
After a long winter indoors, the kids thirst for adventure.
She thirsted for a chance to show what she could do.
Similarlong, yearn, crave, hunger, hanker
Note

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From Old English þurst, from an old root meaning “dry”.