ˈhəŋgrē, -gri, chiefly in substand speech -ŋr-, dial ˈhȯŋ- adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hungrig, from hungor hunger + -ig -y — more at hunger
1.
a. : feeling hunger : feeling distress from lack of food : having a keen appetite
the hungry children trooped into the house
b. : marked by famine or lack of food
gloom reigned in the hungry countryside
the hungry days of the great famine
listen, Captain, this town is hungry — John Hersey
c. : reflecting or indicating hunger or keen appetite
stand at the row of pastries with a hungry look
2. : having, reflecting, or characterized by an ardent desire or craving : longing eagerly : avid
hungry for affection
with a kind of hungry fervor — Robertson Davies
hungry for jobs and patronage — H.F.Wilkins
— often used in combination
a land- hungry people
the fuel- hungry East
a trade- hungry nation
3. : not rich or fertile : poor , barren
a hungry soil
hungry ore