Need - Definition

n 1: a condition requiring relief; "she satisfied his need for
affection"; "God has no need of men to accomplish His
work"; "there is a demand for jobs" [syn: need, demand]
2: anything that is necessary but lacking; "he had sufficient
means to meet his simple needs"; "I tried to supply his
wants" [syn: need, want]
3: the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action
toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which
gives purpose and direction to behavior; "we did not
understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of
motives" [syn: motivation, motive, need]
4: a state of extreme poverty or destitution; "their indigence
appalled him"; "a general state of need exists among the
homeless" [syn: indigence, need, penury, pauperism,
pauperization]
v 1: require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do
what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This
job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position
demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls
for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not
postulate a patient's consent" [syn: necessitate, ask,
postulate, need, require, take, involve, call
for, demand] [ant: eliminate, obviate, rid of]
2: have need of; "This piano wants the attention of a competent
tuner" [syn: want, need, require]
3: have or feel a need for; "always needing friends and money"