Desperate desire to live (6)
I believe the answer is:
reside
'live' is the definition.
(I know that reside is a more specific form of the action live)
'desperate desire' is the wordplay.
'desperate' indicates anagramming the letters (a desperate or pathetic spelling).
'desire' is an anagram of 'RESIDE'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for reside that I've seen before include "Occupy a place" , "Inhabit" , "Stay - desire (anag)" , "Hang out with" , "Dwell, be present (in)" .)