1 out of control and ready to do anything to change the situation you are in because it is so terrible 铤而走险；（穷途末路而）不顾一切: She became desperate when her money ran out. 她的钱花光后，就不顾一切了。

2 done with little hope of success, as a last thing to try when everything else has failed 成功希望渺茫的；孤注一掷的: I made a desperate attempt to persuade her to change her mind. 我孤注一掷，企图劝她改变主意。

3 desperate (for sth/to do sth) wanting or needing sth very much 极想；极需要: Let's go into a cafe. I'm desperate for a drink. 一起去咖啡馆吧。我渴死了。

4 terrible, very serious 极坏的；十分严重的: There is a desperate shortage of skilled workers. 熟练工人极度缺乏。 ➔desperately adv She was desperately unlucky not to win. 她倒霉透顶，没有取胜。 ➔desperation /ˌdespəˈreɪʃn ||; ˌdɛspəˈreʃən/ noun [U]