1a. To desire greatly; wish for: They want to leave. She wants a glass of water. See synonyms at desire. b. To desire (someone to do something): I want you to clean your room.2a. To request the presence or assistance of: You are wanted by your office.b. To seek with intent to capture: The fugitive is wanted by the police.3. To have an inclination toward; like: Say what you want, but be tactful.4.Informal To be obliged (to do something): You want to be careful on the ice.5. To be without; lack. See synonyms at lack. 6. To be in need of; require: “‘Your hair wants cutting,’ said the Hatter” (Lewis Carroll).
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To have need: wants for nothing.2. To be destitute or needy. 3. To be disposed; wish: Call me daily if you want.
NOUN:
1. The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary: stayed home for want of anything better to do.2. Pressing need; destitution: lives in want.3. Something desired: a person of few wants and needs.4. A defect of character; a fault.
PHRASAL VERBS:
want inSlang1. To desire greatly to enter: The dog wants in.2. To wish to join a project, business, or other undertaking. want outSlang1. To desire greatly to leave: The cat wants out.2. To wish to leave a project, a business, or other undertaking.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English wanten, to be lacking, from Old Norse vanta. See eu- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:
wanter —NOUN
USAGE NOTE:
When want meaning “desire” is followed immediately by an infinitive construction, it does not take for:I want you to go (not want for you to go). When want and the infinitive are separated by a word or phrase, however, for is used: What I want is for you to go. I want very much for you to go.Want in its meaning of “have need, lack” normally takes for:They'll not want for anything now that they've inherited his estate. See Usage Note at wish.
w
nt, 
- in Appendix I.
er —NOUN
