Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - need

~1 v 1 »MUST« to feel that you must have something or must do something; require  (need sth)  (That was what I needed - strong, hot coffee. | I don't need your approval, thank you very much. | need to do sth)  (I need to think about this before I make a decision. | need sth for)  (He said he needed the information for an article he was writing. | need sb to do sth)  (We need volunteers to clean up after the performance. | need sth badly)  (Money was tight and he needed a job badly.) 2 to have to do something because you feel you should do it or because you think it is necessary  (need (to) do sth)  (Do you think I need to go to the meeting? | You need to work harder if you're going to pass those exams. | Nobody need feel jealous. | need not do sth BrE)  (You needn't worry. I've taken care of it. | do not need to do sth)  (Honestly, you don't need to get changed. You look fine as you are. | need not have done sth BrE (=used when someone does something that was not necessary))  (Terence has done so little work, he needn't have bothered to come to school today. | did not need to do sth)  (What a beautiful day! I didn't need to bring my umbrella after all. | need sb do sth? BrE old-fashioned)  (Need we leave so soon? I'm having a wonderful time.) 3 need cleaning/mending/fixing etc if something needs cleaning or needs to be cleaned, someone should clean it because it is dirty  (That fence needs fixing. | need washing/mending etc)  (The children need collecting at 4 o'clock. | need to be washed/to be mended etc)  (I think these potatoes need to be cooked a little longer. | need a wash/a mend etc)  (He looked tired and looked like he needed a shave.) 4 if a job or activity needs a particular quality, you need to have that quality in order to do it well  (A job like nursing needs patience and understanding.) 5 I need hardly say/tell/remind etc used when you think that people should already know what you are going to say  (I need hardly remind you that people will judge the school by the way you behave.) 6 need you ask/need I ask spoken used to say that someone already knows what they are asking about  ("Who did it?" "Need you ask? It was Joe, of course.") 7 who needs it? spoken used to say you are not interested in something  (To hell with enlightenment, who needs it?) ~2 n 1 »WHEN STH IS NECESSARY« a situation in which something is necessary, especially something that is not happening yet or is not yet available + for  (the need for stricter safety regulations | There's a growing need for new housing in many rural areas.) the need to do sth  (We fully recognize the need to improve communications. | Don't you ever feel the need to take a vacation? | as the need arises (=whenever it is necessary))  (We draw money from the account as the need arises. | if need be (=if it is necessary))  (I'll work all night if need be.) 2 there's no need (for sb) to do sth a) used to say that someone does not have to do something  (There's no need for you to come if you don't want to.) b) spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something  (There's no need to shout; I'm not deaf!) 3 be in need of a) to need to be cleaned, repaired, or given attention in some way  (The whole house is in need of decorating.) b) to need help, advice, money etc, because you are in a difficult situation  (I felt lonely and in need of some companionship. | be in dire need of (=need something urgently))  (Many of the refugees are in dire need of medical treatment.) 4 have no need of to not need something  (Japan has its own space technology and has no need of American help..) 5 »WHAT YOU NEED« C usually plural what someone needs to have in order to live a normal healthy comfortable life  (sb's needs)  (We must look after the needs of the elderly. | meet/answer/fill a need (=provide something that people want or need))  (meeting the educational needs of every child | your every need)  (a service that caters for your every need) 6 »LACK OF MONEY« the state of not having enough food or money  (cases of severe need in the inner cities | in need (=not having enough food or money))  (Our aim is to provide adequate food for those families in need.) 7 in your hour of need when you are in trouble  (a friend you can turn to in your hour of need)