starve 
/ˈstɑɚv/ verb
starves; starved; starv·ing /ˈstɑɚv/ verb 1 [no obj] : to suffer or die from lack of food : to suffer extreme hunger
▪ Without food they would starve. ▪ They left him to starve out in the desert. ▪ Those people are starving. ▪ providing food for starving children ▪ The famine caused many to starve to death. [=to die from lack of food] 2 [+ obj] : to cause (a person or animal) to suffer or die because of lack of food
▪ They tried to starve their enemies into submission. ▪ It was clear that the dog had been starved. ▪ You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. 3 a [no obj] chiefly US : to want or need something very much — usually used as (be) starving for ▪ Those children are starving for attention. [=they badly need to be given more attention] ▪ After being alone for so long, I was starving for conversation. ▪ a government program that is starving for funds
b [+ obj] : to not give (someone or something) enough of something that is wanted or needed
▪ Those children have been starved of attention. [=they have not been given enough attention] ▪ (chiefly US) Those children are starved for attention. [=they badly need to be given more attention] — sometimes used in combination ▪ a cash-starved company
▪ Without food they would starve. ▪ They left him to starve out in the desert. ▪ Those people are starving. ▪ providing food for starving children ▪ The famine caused many to starve to death. [=to die from lack of food]
▪ They tried to starve their enemies into submission. ▪ It was clear that the dog had been starved. ▪ You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight.
b [+ obj] : to not give (someone or something) enough of something that is wanted or needed
▪ Those children have been starved of attention. [=they have not been given enough attention] ▪ (chiefly US) Those children are starved for attention. [=they badly need to be given more attention] — sometimes used in combination ▪ a cash-starved company
be starving or be starved
chiefly US, informal : to be very hungry
▪ I skipped lunch, so by dinnertime I was starving. ▪ When are we eating? I'm starved!
▪ I skipped lunch, so by dinnertime I was starving. ▪ When are we eating? I'm starved!
