Starve

Definition

Starve primarily refers to the act of suffering or dying from lack of food. It can also denote a severe lack or deprivation of something considered necessary.

Parts of Speech

• Verb

Pronunciation

• American English
  • ‍IPA Pronunciation: /stɑrv/‍
  • Respelling: STARV (with "STARV" rhyming with "carve" and "scarf" without the final "f")

• British English:
  • ‍IPA Pronunciation: /stɑːv/
  • ‍Respelling: STARV (similar to American English, with "STARV" rhyming with "carve" and "scarf" without the final "f")
    

In both dialects, "starve" is pronounced with the "ar" sound, as in "carve." The pronunciation of "starve" is consistent between American and British English, reflecting the word's simple and direct phonetic structure.

Etymology

The word "starve" is derived from Old English steorfan, meaning "to die" which has a Proto-Germanic origin in the word sterbaną, meaning "to die, perish". The meaning of "starve" shifted over time to specifically denote death from lack of food.

Derivatives

• Starver
• Starving
• Starvation
• Starved
• Unstarved

Synonyms

• Famish
• Hunger
• Malnourish

Antonyms

• Sate
• Feed
• Nourish

Usage

The word "starve" is often used to describe extreme cases of hunger, whether literally, as in cases of famine, or metaphorically, as in a dire need for some critical resources. It's used in various contexts to express severe lack or deprivation.

Related Terms

• Hunger
• Famine
• Malnutrition
• Deprivation

Detailed Definition

Verb

• Suffer or Die from Hunger: To suffer or die from a lack of food.
• Example: "Many people can starve in regions affected by famine."

• Cause to Suffer from Hunger: To cause someone to suffer severely from hunger.
• Example: "The captors starved the hostages for days."

• Deprive of Nourishment: To deprive something or someone of nourishment or a necessary ingredient or element.
• Example: "Plants will starve without adequate sunlight."