desideratum noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of desideratum noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

desideratum

noun
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtəm/,
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈreɪtəm/
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtəm/,
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈreɪtəm/
(plural desiderata
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtə/,
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈreɪtə/
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtə/,
 
/dɪˌzɪdəˈreɪtə/
)
(from Latin, formal)
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  1. a thing that is wanted or needed
    Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘something desired’, neuter past participle of desiderare, perhaps from de- ‘down’ + sidus, sider- ‘star’.
See desideratum in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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Nearby words

alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
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