Starve  v. (-ving) 1 (cause to) die of hunger or suffer from malnourishment. 2 colloq. Feel very hungry (i'm starving). 3 a suffer from mental or spiritual want. B (foll. By for) feel a strong craving for. 4 (foll. By of) deprive of. 5 compel by starving (starved into surrender).  starvation n. [old english, = die]