/ ˈhʌŋgə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] the state of not having enough food to eat, especially when this causes illness or death
SYN starvation :
Around fifty people die of hunger every day in the camp.
The organization works to alleviate world hunger and disease.
2.
[ U ] the feeling caused by a need to eat :
hunger pangs
I felt faint with hunger.
3.
[ sing. ] hunger (for sth) ( formal ) a strong desire for sth :
a hunger for knowledge
Nothing seemed to satisfy their hunger for truth.
■ verb
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PHRASAL VERBS
- hunger for / after sth/sb
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English hungor (noun), hyngran (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch honger and German Hunger .