THIRSTINESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does thirstiness mean? 

• THIRSTINESS (noun)
  The noun THIRSTINESS has 3 senses:

1. a deficiency of moisture (especially when resulting from a permanent absence of rainfall)

2. a physiological need to drink

3. strong desire for something (not food or drink)

  Familiarity information: THIRSTINESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THIRSTINESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A deficiency of moisture (especially when resulting from a permanent absence of rainfall)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

aridity; aridness; thirstiness

Hypernyms ("thirstiness" is a kind of...):

dryness; waterlessness; xerotes (the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water))

Derivation:

thirsty (needing moisture)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A physiological need to drink

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

thirst; thirstiness

Hypernyms ("thirstiness" is a kind of...):

drive (a physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thirstiness"):

dehydration (depletion of bodily fluids)

polydipsia (excessive thirst (as in cases of diabetes or kidney dysfunction))

Derivation:

thirsty (feeling a need or desire to drink)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strong desire for something (not food or drink)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

hunger; hungriness; thirst; thirstiness

Context example:

hunger for affection

Hypernyms ("thirstiness" is a kind of...):

desire (an inclination to want things)

Derivation:

thirsty ((usually followed by 'for') extremely desirous)