As a Noun: 1. The deep feeling of unhappiness you have when you want something very much that you cannot yet have, especially the return of someone who has gone away. English = longing, yearning. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To want something very much that you cannot yet have, especially the return of someone who has gone away. English = miss someone. Idiomatic English = long for someone, pine for someone, yearn for someone.