starvation
/stɑ:'veiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of causing someone to suffer or die from lack of food: The deliberate or enforced deprivation of food.
- The state of suffering or dying from extreme hunger: A severe deficiency in caloric energy and nutrient intake over a prolonged period.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The act of depriving of food:
- The starvation of the civilian population was used as a weapon of war.
- The charity works to prevent the starvation of vulnerable communities during famines.
- The state of extreme hunger:
- Many animals faced starvation during the harsh winter.
- The survivors were found in a state of severe starvation.
Advanced Usage and Notes
- "Starvation diet": A diet that is severely lacking in calories or nutrients, often used metaphorically.
- The prisoner was kept on a starvation diet.
- "Starvation wages": Wages that are so low they are barely enough to survive on.
- The workers protested against the payment of starvation wages.
- The term often implies a severe, life-threatening condition, not just temporary hunger.
Variants and Related Words
- Starve (verb): To suffer or die from extreme hunger; to deprive of food.
- Without rain, the crops will fail and people may starve.
- Starving (adjective): Suffering from extreme hunger (can be used informally to mean "very hungry").
- The starving children were given emergency aid.
Synonyms
- Famine: Extreme scarcity of food, affecting a large population.
- Malnutrition: Lack of proper nutrition, which can be caused by not having enough food or not eating the right things.
- Hunger: A feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat (less severe than starvation).
Antonyms
- Nourishment: The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
- Plenty: A situation where food and other necessities are available in large quantities.
- Feast: A large and elaborate meal.
Idioms and Phrases
- "Starvation mode": (Biology/Metabolism) A state in which the body conserves energy by slowing down metabolism due to prolonged low caloric intake.
- Crash diets can put your body into starvation mode, making it harder to lose weight.
- "Starvation tactic": A strategy of forcing surrender or compliance by cutting off essential supplies, especially food.
- The army employed a starvation tactic during the siege.
Noun
- the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine
- the besiegers used starvation to induce surrender
- they were charged with the starvation of children in their care
- a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period