0 present participle of need
1 to have to have something, or to want something very much:
[ + to infinitive ] I need to go to the toilet.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] I need you to help me choose an outfit.
informal I don't need all this hassle.
[ + -ing verb ] This room needs cleaning.
[ + past participle ] She needs her hair washed.
2 to have (to):
[ + to infinitive ] He needs to lose some weight.
There needs to be more effort from everyone.
[ + infinitive without to ] I don't think we need ask him.
Nothing need be done about this till next week.
It's a wonderful way of getting to see Italy, and it needn't cost very much.
I gave her some extra money - I know I didn't need to but I thought it would be kind.
"Did you ask Sophia to help?" "I didn't need to - I managed perfectly well on my own."
You needn't have washed all those dishes, you know - I'd have done them myself when I got home.
You needn't have worried about the dinner - it was delicious!
I called her on the pretext of needing more information.
In the past, a woman needed to be chaste to make a good marriage.