wan|der|er /wɒ ndərə r / (wanderers ) N‑COUNT A wanderer is a person who travels around rather than settling in one place.
wan|der|ing /wɒ ndər I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Wandering is used to describe people who travel around rather than staying in one place for a long time. [LITERARY ] □ …a band of wandering musicians.
wan|der|ings /wɒ ndər I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Someone's wanderings are journeys that they make from place to place without staying in one place for a long time. □ On his wanderings he's picked up Spanish, Italian, French and a smattering of Russian.
wan|der|lust /wɒ ndə r lʌst/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone who has wanderlust has a strong desire to travel. □ His wanderlust would not allow him to stay long in one spot.
wane /we I n/ (wanes , waning , waned )
1 VERB If something wanes , it becomes gradually weaker or less, often so that it eventually disappears. □ [V ] While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for rugby developed. □ [V -ing] …her mother's waning strength.
2 wax and wane → see wax
3 PHRASE If something is on the wane , it is becoming weaker or less. □ In 1982, with his career prospects on the wane, he sold a script for £5,000.
4 VERB [usu cont] When the moon is waning , it is showing a smaller area of brightness each day as it changes from a full moon to a new moon. □ [V ] The moon was waning, and each day it rose later.
wan|gle /wæ ŋg ə l/ (wangles , wangling , wangled ) VERB If you wangle something that you want, you manage to get it by being clever or persuading someone. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] We managed to wangle a few days' leave. □ [V n] He had wangled his way into the country without a visa. □ [V n n] I asked the Captain to wangle us three tickets to Athens. □ [V n + for ] Amanda had wangled a job for Robyn with the council.
wank /wæ ŋk/ (wanks , wanking , wanked ) VERB To wank means to masturbate. [BRIT , VERY RUDE ] ● N‑SING Wank is also a noun.
wank|er /wæ ŋkə r / (wankers ) N‑COUNT If someone calls a man a wanker , they do not like him and they think he is very stupid or unpleasant. [BRIT , VERY RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ]
wan|na /wɒ nə/ Wanna is used in written English to represent the words 'want to' when they are pronounced informally. □ I wanna be married to you. Do you wanna be married to me?
wanna|be /wɒ nəbiː/ (wannabes ) also wannabee N‑COUNT [usu n N , N n] If you call someone a wannabe , you are saying in an unkind way that they are trying very hard to be like another person or group of people. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a feeble James Dean wannabe.
want ◆◆◆ /wɒ nt/ (wants , wanting , wanted )
1 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you want something, you feel a desire or a need for it. □ [V n] I want a drink. □ [V n] Ian knows exactly what he wants in life. □ [V to-inf] People wanted to know who this talented designer was. □ [V n to-inf] They began to want their father to be the same as other daddies. □ [V n v-ing] They didn't want people staring at them as they sat on the lawn, so they put up high walls. □ [V n -ed] He wanted his power recognised. □ [V n n] I want my car this colour. □ [V n adj/prep] And remember, we want him alive.
2 VERB [no cont, no passive] You can say that you want to say something to indicate that you are about to say it. □ [V to-inf] Look, I wanted to apologize for today. I think I was a little hard on you.
3 VERB [no cont, no passive] You use want in questions as a way of making an offer or inviting someone to do something. □ [V n] Do you want another cup of coffee? □ [V to-inf] Do you want to leave your bike here?
4 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you say to someone that you want something, or ask them if they want to do it, you are firmly telling them what you want or what you want them to do. □ [V n] I want an explanation from you, Jeremy. □ [V n to-inf] If you have a problem with that, I want you to tell me right now. □ [V to-inf] Do you want to tell me what all this is about? □ [V n adv/prep] I want my money back!
5 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you say that something wants doing, you think that it needs to be done. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V v-ing] Her hair wants cutting.
6 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you tell someone that they want to do a particular thing, you are advising them to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] You want to be very careful not to have a man like Crevecoeur for an enemy.
7 VERB [usu passive] If someone is wanted by the police, the police are searching for them because they are thought to have committed a crime. □ [be V -ed + for ] He was wanted for the murder of a magistrate. ● want|ed ADJ [ADJ n] □ He is one of the most wanted criminals in Europe.
8 VERB If you want someone, you have a great desire to have sex with them. □ [V n] Come on, darling. I want you.
9 VERB If a child is wanted , its mother or another person loves it and is willing to look after it. □ [be V -ed] Children should be wanted and planned. □ [V n] I want this baby very much, because it certainly will be the last.
10 N‑SING A want of something is a lack of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a want of manners and charm.
11 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Your wants are the things that you want. □ [+ of ] Supermarkets often claim that they are responding to the wants of consumers.