appetite

plural appetites

1. countableuncountableA desire to eat food or consume drinks.

   And I return with an excellent appetite. There can be no question, my dear Watson, of the value of exercise before breakfast.

   1904, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of Black Peter

   3 more examples

   The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite. There is something humiliating about it.

   1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

   Though the breweries were forced to shut down, the dry spell did little more than whet the public's appetite for beer: Records show that within the first 24 hours after Congress lifted the ban Prohibition] in 1933, Americans guzzled 1 million barrels of the stuff.

   1985, Susan Mullane, “Going for some gusto in the kitchen”, in National Fisherman, page 78

   Biotics possess extraordinary abilities, but they must live with minor inconveniences. The most obvious issue is getting adequate nutrition. Creating biotic mass effects takes such a toll on metabolism that active biotics develop ravenous appetites. The standard Alliance combat ration for a soldier is 3000 calories per day; biotics are given 4500, as well as a canteen of potent energy drink for quick refreshment after hard combat.

   2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Biotics: Life as a Biotic Codex entry

2. countableuncountableAny strong desire; an eagerness or longing.

   If God had given to eagles an appetite to swim.

   1678, Antiquitates Christianæ: Or, the History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […], London: […] E. Flesher, and R. Norton, for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvellous.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter IX, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   Conway says there had long been an outline plan to build a new station in Belfast, to replace Great Victoria Street station, but also to bring the Europa bus station into that to create a fully integrated transport hub. The team soon realised that there was a real appetite for this among the public of Northern Ireland, as well as a desire to include active travel, such as more cycle parking and better pedestrian access.

   2026 March 18, Chris Conway talks to Andy Comfort, “The RAIL Interview”, in RAIL, number 1057, page 33

3. countableuncountableThe desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the mind.

   appetite for reading

   1 more example

   The object of appetite is whatsoever sensible good may be wished for; the object of will is that good which reason does lead us to seek.

   [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)