Link Centre Dictionary

greedy

UK/ˈɡɹiːdi/ US/ˈɡridi/ fairly common

adjective

1.

immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

  • “they are avaricious and will do anything for money”
  • “casting covetous eyes on his neighbor”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “;”
Synonyms
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2.

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

  • “avid for adventure”
  • “an avid ambition to succeed”
  • “fierce devouring affection”
  • “the esurient eyes of an avid curiosity”
  • “greedy for fame”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume

  • “don”
Similar

Origin

From Middle English gredy, from Anglian Old English grēdiġ (“greedy, hungry, eager”) (cognate West Saxon form grǣdiġ), from Proto-Germanic *grēdagaz (“hungry”), from Proto-Germanic *grēdaz, *grēduz, *grēdô (“hunger”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer-. Equivalent to greed + -y. Cognate with Old Saxon grādag (“greedy”), Dutch graag (“gladly, willingly”), Old High German grātag (“greedy”), Danish grådig (“greedy”), Norwegian Bokmål grådig (“greedy”) (from Old Norse gráðigr (“greedy”), gráði (“greed, hunger”)), Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍃 (grēdags, “hungry”). Sanskrit गृद्धि (gṛddhi, “greed”) is a false cognate.

Phrases

  • be fearful when others are greedy
  • be greedy when others are fearful
  • greedy algorithm
  • greedy property

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.