a craving to drink, accompanied by a feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat an eager longing, craving, or yearning
- (intransitive)
to feel a thirst
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
thirst /θɜrst/USA pronunciation
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Physiologya feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat caused by need of liquid: [countable]He had developed quite a thirst after working in the hot sun all day.[uncountable]to quench thirst.
- Physiology a need for liquid or moisture:[uncountable]dying of thirst.
- an eager desire for something;
craving:[countable]a thirst for knowledge.
v.
- to feel thirst;
be thirsty:[no object]"I thirst,'' he croaked. - to have a strong desire for something:[~ + for/after + object]to thirst for adventure.
thirst (thûrst),USA pronunciation
n.
v.i.
thirst′er, n.
- Physiologya sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat caused by need of liquid.
- Physiologythe physical condition resulting from this need, in any of various degrees:They almost died of thirst.
- strong or eager desire;
craving:a thirst for knowledge.
v.i.
- to feel thirst;
be thirsty. - to have a strong desire.
- bef. 900; Middle English thirsten (verb, verbal), Old English thyrstan, derivative of thurst (noun, nominal); cognate with Dutch dorst, German Durst, Old Norse thorsti, Gothic thaurstei; noun, nominal has -i- from the verb, verbal or from thirsty; see toast1
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