Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

want

2 noun
     
want2
1

for (the) want of something

used to say that you do not have or cannot find what you need in a particular situation:
The gallery closed down for want of funding.
2

for want of a better word/phrase etc

used to say that you cannot find an exact word or phrase to describe something:
They should behave, for want of a better word, decently.
3

not for want of something

used to say that even though something did not happen or succeed, it was not because you did not try hard enough or have what you needed
4

for want of anything better (to do)

if you do something for want of anything better, you do it only because there is nothing else you want to do
5

lack

[uncountable and countable] formal something that you need but do not have:
a disgraceful want of proper care
6

no food/money etc

[uncountable] a situation in which you do not have enough food, money, clothes etc:
the chronic want and deprivation in the townships
7

be in want of something

formal to need something:
The house is sadly in want of repair.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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