Starve v. i. [imp. & p. p. Starved p. pr. & vb. n. Starving.]
1. To die; to perish. [Obs., except in the sense of perishing with cold or hunger.]
In hot coals he hath himself raked . . .
Thus starved this worthy mighty Hercules. --Chaucer.
2. To perish with hunger; to suffer extreme hunger or want; to be very indigent.
Sometimes virtue starves, while vice is fed. --Pope.
3. To perish or die with cold.
Have I seen the naked starve for cold? --Sandys.
Starving with cold as well as hunger. --W. Irving.
Note: ☞ In this sense, still common in England, but rarely used in the United States.
starving
adj : suffering from lack of food [syn: starved]
n : the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine; "the
beseigers used starvation to induce surrender"; "they
were charged with the starvation of children in their
care" [syn: starvation]