empty-bellied

Friendly

Explanation of "empty-bellied"

Definition:
The word "empty-bellied" is an adjective used to describe someone who feels hungry because they have not eaten for a while. It often implies that the person's stomach is empty, especially after skipping meals.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "empty-bellied" to describe a person who hasn’t eaten recently and is likely feeling weak or tired from hunger.
• It is often used in a more poetic or descriptive context rather than everyday conversation.

Example:

• After playing in the park all afternoon without lunch, the children returned home feeling empty-bellied and eager for dinner.

Advanced Usage:

In literature or more formal writing, "empty-bellied" can be used to evoke feelings of hunger and need, often to create sympathy for the characters described.

Word Variants:

• Empty (adjective): Lacking content or substance.
• Belly (noun): The stomach or abdomen.
• Bellied (adjective): Having a belly of a specified type (e.g., "pot-bellied").

Different Meanings:

While "empty-bellied" specifically refers to hunger, the individual words have broader meanings: - Empty: Can mean lacking contents or not filled. - Belly: Can refer to the stomach or be used informally to describe someone’s physical appearance.

Synonyms:

• Hungry
• Starving
• Famished
• Ravenous

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly using "empty-bellied," some related phrases might include: - "On an empty stomach": This phrase means to do something without having eaten first, which can result in feeling weak or dizzy. - Example: “I can’t concentrate on my work on an empty stomach.”

Summary:

"Empty-bellied" is a descriptive way to express hunger, often used in a literary context. It highlights the need for nourishment and can be related to empathy for those experiencing hunger.

Academic

Adjective

1. needing nourishment
   • after skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime
   • empty-bellied children

Synonyms

• empty