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hunger

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8 dictionary results for: hunger

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

hun·ger

[huhng-ger] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a compelling need or desire for food.

2.	the painful sensation or state of weakness caused by the need of food: to collapse from hunger.

3.	a shortage of food; famine.

4.	a strong or compelling desire or craving: hunger for power.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to feel hunger; be hungry.

6.	to have a strong desire.

–verb (used with object)

7.	Rare. to subject to hunger; starve.

—Idiom

8.	from hunger, Slang. deplorably bad; dreadful: The styles in coats this winter are from hunger. Also, strictly from hunger.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE hungor; c. G Hunger

]

—Related forms

hun·ger·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 4. appetite, greed, lust, itch.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Can You Live On $1 A Day?
How would you survive? Billions are forced to daily. Help end hunger.
www.freedomfromhunger.org

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

hun·ger (hŭng'gər) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A strong desire or need for food.
2. The discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food.
A strong desire or craving: a hunger for affection.

v. hun·gered, hun·ger·ing, hun·gers

v. intr.

To have a need or desire for food.
To have a strong desire or craving.

v. tr.
To cause to experience hunger; make hungry.

[Middle English, from Old English hungor.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
hunger

O.E. hungor "unease or pain caused by lack of food, craving appetite, debility from lack of food," from P.Gmc. *khungrus (cf. O.H.G. hungar, O.N. hungr, Ger. hunger, Du. honger, Goth. huhrus), probably from PIE base *kenk- "to burn, be dry, pain." Hungry is O.E. hungrig.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

hunger
noun
1.	a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
2.	strong desire for something (not food or drink); "a thirst for knowledge"; "hunger for affection"
verb
1.	feel the need to eat
2.	have a craving, appetite, or great desire for [syn: crave]
3.	be hungry; go without food; "Let's eat--I'm starving!" [syn: starve] [ant: be full]

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

hunger hun·ger (hŭng'gər)
n.

A strong desire or need for food.
The discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food.
A strong desire or craving, as for affection.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hunger

Hun"ger\, n. [AS. hungor; akin to OFries. hunger, D. honger, OS. & OHG. hungar, G. hunger, Icel. hungr, Sw. & Dan. hunger, Goth. h?hrus hunger, huggrjan to hunger.]

1. An uneasy sensation occasioned normally by the want of food; a craving or desire for food.

Note: The sensation of hunger is usually referred to the stomach, but is probably dependent on excitation of the sensory nerves, both of the stomach and intestines, and perhaps also on indirect impressions from other organs, more or less exhausted from lack of nutriment.

2. Any strong eager desire.

O sacred hunger of ambitious minds! --Spenser.

For hunger of my gold I die. --Dryden.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hunger

Hun"ger\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hungered; p. pr. & vb. n. Hungering.] [OE. hungren, AS. hyngrian. See Hunger, n.]

1. To feel the craving or uneasiness occasioned by want of food; to be oppressed by hunger.

2. To have an eager desire; to long.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteouness. --Matt. v. 6.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This