thirst

 
Pronunciation: /θəːst/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a feeling of needing or wanting to drink something: they quenched their thirst with spring water
  • lack of the liquid needed to sustain life: tens of thousands died of thirst and starvation
  • (usually thirst for) a strong desire for something: his thirst for knowledge was mainly academic

verb

[no object]
  • 1 (usually thirst for/after) have a strong desire for something: an opponent thirsting for revenge
  • 2 archaic feel a need to drink something: a few could drink while many thirsted

Origin:

Old English thurst (noun), thyrstan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dorst, dorsten and German Durst, dürsten