Main Entry: starve

Pronunciation: \ˈstärv\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): starved; starv·ing

Etymology: 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

Date: 15th century

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