v. 1 intr. die of hunger; suffer from malnourishment. 2 tr. cause to die of hunger or suffer from lack of food. 3 intr. suffer from extreme poverty. 4 intr. colloq. feel very hungry (I'm starving). 5 intr. a suffer from mental or spiritual want. b (foll. by for) feel a strong craving for (sympathy, amusement, knowledge, etc.). 6 tr. a (foll. by of) deprive of; keep scantily supplied with (starved of affection). b cause to suffer from mental or spiritual want. 7 tr. a (foll. by into) compel by starving (starved into submission). b (foll. by out) compel to surrender etc. by starving (starved them out). 8 intr. archaic or dial. perish with or suffer from cold. starvation n.
[ OE steorfan die ]