Meaning of desire In English

• 0 to want something, especially strongly:

  • I desire only to be left in peace.

  • The hotel had everything you could possibly desire.

  • What does her Ladyship desire me to do/desire of me?

  • [ + to infinitive ] The president desires to meet the new prime minister.

• 1 to have a strong sexual attraction to someone

• 2 a strong feeling that you want something:

  • I certainly have no desire to have children.

  • There is a strong desire for peace among the people.

  • He needed to satisfy his desire for revenge.

  • [ + to infinitive ] She had a burning/strong desire to go back to her home country before she died.

  • Several people have expressed a desire to see the report.

• 3 the strong feeling that you want to have sex with someone:

  • sexual desire

  • Beatrice was the object of Dante's desire.

• 4 a strong feeling of wanting something, or something you want:

  • [ U ] He claims to have no desire for wealth.

  • [ C ] She expressed a desire to speak with her attorney.

  • [ C ] Teenagers often have a burning desire to look older.

  • [ C ] My desires in life are few.

• 5 to want something strongly:

  • They don’t really seem to desire change.