• (RP) enPR: nēd, IPA: /niːd/, [nɪi̯d]
• (America) IPA: /nid/

From Middle English need, nede, a merger of two terms:

• Old English nīed (West Saxon), nēd (Mercian), nēad, from Proto-West Germanic *naudi, from Proto-Germanic *naudiz, from Proto-Indo-European *neh₂w-.
• Old English nēod, from Proto-West Germanic *neud, from Proto-Germanic *neudaz, from Proto-Indo-European *new-.

need

1. (countable and uncountable) A requirement for something; something needed.

   There's no need to speculate; we can easily find out for sure.

   She grew irritated with his constant need for attention.

   Our needs are not being met.

   I've always tried to have few needs beyond food, clothing and shelter.

   • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:

     Being so great, I have no need to beg.

   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC ↗:

     Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy.

2. Lack of means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
   • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     Famine is in thy cheeks;
     Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes.

• French: besoin, nécessité
• German: Notwendigkeit, Bedarf, Bedürfnis
• Italian: bisogno, necessità, requisito, esigenza
• Portuguese: necessidade
• Russian: нужда́
• Spanish: necesidad, necesidades

• German: Not
• Italian: indigenza
• Portuguese: necessidade
• Spanish: necesidad

From Middle English neden, from Old English nēodian.

need (needs, present participle needing; simple past and past participle needed)

1. (transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.

   Living things need water to survive.

   You do not always need to go to the library to study. You may use the Internet.

2. (transitive) To want strongly; to feel that one must have something.

   After ten days of hiking, I needed a shower and a shave.

3. (modal, chiefly in the negative) To be obliged or required (to do something).

   You need not go if you don't want to.

4. (intransitive) To be required; to be necessary.
   • 1694, [John Locke], chapter 21, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Thomas Dring, […]; and Samuel Manship, […], →OCLC ↗, book II, page 143 ↗:

     When we have done it, we have done our duty, and all that is in our power, and indeed all that needs.

5. (obsolete, transitive) To be necessary (to someone).
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC ↗:

     More ample spirit, then hitherto was wount, / Here needes me […]

• (desire) desire, wish for, would like, want, will (archaic)
• (lack) be without, lack
• (require) be in need of, require

• French: avoir besoin de, nécessiter
• German: benötigen, brauchen
• Italian: aver bisogno di, avere bisogno di
• Portuguese: precisar, necessitar
• Russian: нужда́ться
• Spanish: necesitar

• French: avoir besoin de
• German: brauchen
• Portuguese: precisar

• French: être obligé de, nécessiter
• German: müssen
• Italian: essere obbligato a, necessitare
• Portuguese: precisar, necessitar
• Spanish: necesitar