(1)必(需)要(important reason for;necessity)[U，a～][N(for)，N+to-inf]：an urgent～for food 急需食物;satisfy/meet a～ 满足需要;There's a～for caution in this matter. 在这件事情上需要小心谨慎。There is no～for panic. 不必惊慌。There is urgent～for a reform. 迫切需要改革。There was no immediate～for a decision on this troublesome issue. 不需要马上对这一伤脑筋的问题作出决定。There is no～to send for the doctor. 不需要请医生来。Is there any～to rush? 有必要匆忙吗? There is no～for him to be so unpleasant. 他没有必要这么不开心。Your～ is greater than mine. 你比我更需要。

(2)基本需求(thing that is thought to be essential for one to have)[pl]：basic/crying/emergency/everyday/the talent～s 基本/迫切/紧急/日常/人才的需要;Their first～s were food and water. 他们首先需要的是食物和水。What are your greatest～s? 你最需要的是什么?

(3)贫穷;困窘;危急(poverty or other difficulty)[U]：His～led him to crime. 贫穷使他犯罪。He's failed me in my time of～. 他在我困难的时候令我失望。Many of our citizens are in desperate～.我们的许多老百姓极度贫困。〖同〗poverty，extremity，distress;〖反〗wealth，affluence;

if need be 必要时;需要时：You mean that if～be you could earn your own living ? 你的意思是如有必要可以自己谋生吗 ?

→′needful adj 必要的;′needfully adv 必要地;′needless adj 不需(必)要的。

【辨异】need和want都可指缺少必要的或渴望得到的东西。need 比want更强调必要性，如：Both of these bridges are badly needed. (这两座桥都是急需的。) want 往往表达一种直接的，个人的欲望，如： She wants a bigger flat.(她想要一套大些的单元房)。need¹ 与must、should、ought to和have to 的区别见HAVE TO。