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starve

[/stɑrv/]
verb
morrer de fome; passar fome
1. To suffer or die from lack of food
Without food, the refugees would starve.
Sem comida, os refugiados morreriam de fome.
2. To deprive of food or sustenance
The siege was meant to starve the city into surrender.
O cerco tinha o objetivo de fazer a cidade passar fome até se render.
3. To feel extremely hungry
I'm starving! When's dinner?
Estou morrendo de fome! Quando é o jantar?
4. To deprive of something essential or needed
The arts program was starved of funding.
O programa de artes foi privado de financiamento.
NYC Slang
dying of hunger; gotta eat something
Synonyms
famishgo hungryperishdie of hunger
Antonyms
feednourishsatiatesatisfy

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
passar fome; morrer de fome
Standard usage throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
estar com muita fome; estar morrendo de fome
Colloquial expression emphasizing intense hunger
São Paulo
estar faminto; passar fome
Common in urban contexts
Portugal
morrer à fome; estar com fome
Portuguese usage, slightly different phrasing

Related Idioms & Phrases

starve to death - morrer de fome
starve for attention - estar sedento por atenção
starve off - afastar com fome; privar
starve one's self - privar-se de comida
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