English Explanatory Dictionary

lust

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A feeling of strong desire, especially such a feeling driven by sexual arousal.
  2. A general want or longing, not necessarily sexual.
  3. A delightful cause of joy, pleasure.
  4. Virility; vigour; active power.
verb
  1. To look at or watch with a strong desire, especially of a sexual nature.
  2. To desire.

Pronunciation

/ˈlʌst/ en-uk-lust2.ogg /ˈlʊst/ /ˈlɜst/

Word forms

lust lusts lusting lusted no-table-tags glossary lustest lustedst lusteth

Etymology

From Middle English lust, from Old English lust (“lust, pleasure, longing”), from Proto-West Germanic *lustu, from Proto-Germanic *lustuz. Akin to Old Saxon, Dutch lust, Old Frisian, Old High German, German Lust, Swedish lust, Danish lyst, Icelandic lyst, Old Norse losti, Gothic 𐌻𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌿𐍃 (lustus), and perhaps to Sanskrit लष् (laṣ), लषति (laṣati, “to desire”) and Albanian lushë (“bitch, savage dog, promiscuous woman”), or to English loose. Compare list (“to please”), listless.

Synonyms

aphrodisia carnality colt's tooth concupiscence the hots lech love lust pride urge to merge lustihood potency vigour virility

Antonyms

chastity apathy aphanisis lustlessness

Related words

wanderlust lustfulness randy sex drive

Derived words

angel lust antilust bloodlust fall in lust instalust luster lustful lustic lustihood lustily lustiness lustless lustmaking lust murder lustsome lustuous lustwort lustworthy lusty squanderlust technolust unlust lust after

Translations

Danish: føle begær Dutch: begeren Dutch: lusten Dutch: smachten Finnish: himoita French: désirer German: begehren German: verlangen Hungarian: testi vágyat érez … iránt Māori: pohane Spanish: lujuriar
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