1. Desire strongly or persistently
   "He yearned for his homeland";
   - hanker, long, pant [informal]
    
2. Have a desire for something or someone who is not present
   "She yearned for a cigarette";
   - ache, yen, pine
    
3. Have affection for; feel tenderness for
   "She yearned for her distant homeland"

Derived forms: yearns, yearned, yearning

Type of: care for, cherish, desire, hold dear, treasure, want

Encyclopedia: Yearn