Main Entry: ap·pe·tite

Pronunciation: \ˈa-pə-ˌtīt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English apetit, from Anglo-French, from Latin appetitus, from appetere to strive after, from ad- + petere to go to — more at feather

Date: 14th century

1 : any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life; especially : the desire to eat
2 a : an inherent craving <an insatiable appetite for work> b : taste, preference <the cultural appetites of the time — J. D. Hart>

— ap·pe·ti·tive \-ˌtī-tiv\ adjective