ˈstärv, ˈstȧv verb
( starved ; starved ; starving ; starves )
Etymology: Middle English sterven, from Old English steorfan; akin to Old Frisian sterva to die, Old High German sterban to die, Old English starian to stare — more at stare
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : die , perish
2.
a. : to perish from lack of food — often used in the phrase starve to death
b. : to suffer extreme hunger
all this time the family had starved and gone ragged — Conrad Richter
3. archaic
a. : to die of cold
b. : to suffer greatly from cold
my hands are starving while I write in bed — Jonathan Swift
4. : to suffer or perish from deprivation
pupils are starving for means of expression — I.A.Richards
his horse … almost starved for water — J.F.Dobie
starving for lack of intellectual companionship — Robert Grant †1940
transitive verb
1. obsolete : kill , destroy
2.
a. : to kill with hunger
b. : to deprive of nourishment
seen men starved, beaten, herded like cattle — John Fountain
c. : to cause to capitulate by or as if by depriving of nourishment
starve a person into submission
starved him out by refusing to support his paper — W.E.Smith
d. : to attempt to cure (a disease) by restricting the diet of the affected person
feed a cold and starve a fever
3.
a. : to destroy by or cause to suffer from deprivation
starved the army of transport — F.M.Ford
the company avoided bankruptcy by starving its depreciation reserves — M.W.Straight
b. : to suppress or extinguish (a fire) by cutting off fuel
4. archaic : to kill with cold