Library / English Dictionary

GREEDY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: greedier    , greediest   

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume

Example:

don't be greedy with the cookies

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

gluttonous (given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink)

Derivation:

greediness (an excessive desire for food)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

Example:

prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees

Synonyms:

avaricious; covetous; grabby; grasping; greedy; prehensile

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

acquisitive (eager to acquire and possess things especially material possessions or ideas)

Derivation:

greed (reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins))

greed (excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves)

greediness (an excessive desire for wealth (usually in large amounts))

Sense 3

Meaning:

(often followed by 'for') ardently or excessively desirous

Example:

greedy for fame

Synonyms:

avid; devouring; esurient; greedy

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

desirous; wishful (having or expressing desire for something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

During the cat’s absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order, but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Now this Gourval was very greedy for money, so he thrust forth his hand for the fourteen deniers, but Simon had his dagger ready and he pinned his hand to the door.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had a greedy relish for a few volumes of Voyages and Travels—I forget what, now—that were on those shelves; and for days and days I can remember to have gone about my region of our house, armed with the centre-piece out of an old set of boot-trees—the perfect realization of Captain Somebody, of the Royal British Navy, in danger of being beset by savages, and resolved to sell his life at a great price.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This was so material an amendment of his late expectations that it greatly contributed to smooth the descent of his pride; and by no means without its effect was the private intelligence, which he was at some pains to procure, that the Fullerton estate, being entirely at the disposal of its present proprietor, was consequently open to every greedy speculation.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

When the king came and saw this, he was greatly astonished and pleased; but his heart grew still more greedy of gain, and he shut up the poor miller’s daughter again with a fresh task.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

We drank in long greedy swallows.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)