What does "desire" mean?

1. (a strong wish) a strong feeling that you want something or want to do something. 2. (sexual attraction) a strong feeling of romantic or sexual attraction to someone. 3. (to want something) to want something very much. 4. (to request) to ask someone for something in a polite or formal way.

How do you use "desire"?

Transitive verb taking a direct object or a 'to' infinitive.

desire

n. · v.

US //dɪˈzaɪɝ// UK //dɪzˈaɪə// de·sire

1 a strong wish (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a strong feeling that you want something or want to do something.

a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.

Example

He had a strong desire to travel the world after finishing university.

Example

Her lifelong desire to improve public health led her to pursue a career in medical research across several continents.
- aversion
- indifference
2 sexual attraction (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a strong feeling of romantic or sexual attraction to someone.

a strong feeling of sexual attraction or romantic appetite toward another person.

Example

The movie is a story about love, desire, and betrayal.

Example

The poet explores the tension between intellectual companionship and physical desire in his later works.
- disgust
- repulsion

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3 to want something (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to want something very much.

to wish for or want something earnestly; often carries a more formal or intense tone than 'want'.

Example

You can have anything you desire for your birthday dinner.

Example

The shareholders desire a more transparent reporting process before they agree to the proposed merger.

Usage

Transitive verb taking a direct object or a 'to' infinitive.
- dislike
- reject
4 to request (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Literary

to ask someone for something in a polite or formal way.

to express a wish to someone; to request or entreat.

Example

The king desired his guests to join him in the garden.

Example

The governor desired the committee to reconsider their decision in light of the new economic data.
- request
- ask
- entreat

Origin

From Middle English desir, desire (noun) and desiren (verb), from Old French desirer, desirrer, from Latin dēsīderō (“to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss, regret”), apparently from de- + sidus (in the phrase de sidere, "from the stars") in connection with astrological hopes. Compare consider and desiderate. The verb, along with Old Norse derived want (verb), has mostly replaced native will in modern English.