As a Noun: 1. Extreme suffering or death caused by lack of food. English = starvation. 2. The desire to eat food. English = hunger. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To suffer greatly from a lack of food and sometimes die. English = starve, go hungry. 2. To be suffering and even dying from a lack of food. English = (be) starving. 3. To want to eat food very much. English = (be) hungry. Informal English = (be) starving.