appetite

n. desire to eat food, hunger, need for food; desire, longing, yearning, wish, craving; fondness, attraction for something, strong liking

The appetite is the desire to eat food, felt as hunger. Appetite exists in all higher lifeforms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic needs. It is regulated by a close interplay between the digestive tract, adipose tissue and the brain. Decreased desire to eat is termed anorexia, while polyphagia (or "hyperphagia") is increased eating. Disregulation of appetite contributes to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, cachexia, overeating, and binge eating disorder.
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Ap·pe·tite n. An instinctive physical desire, as for food or sex. Appetite The natural instinctive desire for food. [more]Appetite - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a feeling of craving something; "an appetite for life"; "the object of life is to satisfy as many appetencies as possible"- Granville Hicks
(synonym) appetency, appetence
(hypernym) craving
(hyponym) stomach

n. appetite, desire, hunger