First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
starve
verb \ˈstärv\
: to suffer or die from lack of food : to suffer extreme hunger
: to cause (a person or animal) to suffer or die because of lack of food
: to want or need something very much
starvedstarv·ing
Full Definition of STARVE
intransitive verb
1
a : to perish from lack of food b : to suffer extreme hunger
2
a archaic : to die of cold b British : to suffer greatly from cold
3
: to suffer or perish from deprivation <starved for affection>
transitive verb
1
a : to kill with hunger b : to deprive of nourishment c : to cause to capitulate by or as if by depriving of nourishment
2
: to destroy by or cause to suffer from deprivation
3
archaic : to kill with cold
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Origin of STARVE
Middle English sterven to die, starve, from Old English steorfan to die; akin to Old High German sterban to die, and probably to Lithuanian starinti to stiffen — more at stare
STARVED Defined for Kids
starve
verb \ˈstärv\
starvedstarv·ing
Definition of STARVE for Kids
1
: to suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from lack of food
2
: to suffer or cause to suffer from a lack of something other than food <The dog was starving for affection.>
Medical Dictionary
starve
verb \ˈstärv\
starvedstarv·ing
Medical Definition of STARVE
intransitive verb
1
: to perish from lack of food
2
: to suffer extreme hunger
transitive verb
1
: to kill with hunger
2
: to deprive of nourishment
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