famine

[ fam-in ]
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noun
  1. extreme and general scarcity of food, as in a country or a large geographical area.

  2. any extreme and general scarcity.

  1. extreme hunger; starvation.

Origin of famine

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, derivative of faim “hunger,” from Latin famēs; cf. famish

Other words for famine

Words Nearby famine

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How to use famine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for famine

famine

/ (ˈfæmɪn) /


noun
  1. a severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation

  2. acute shortage of anything

  1. violent hunger

Origin of famine

1
C14: from Old French, via Vulgar Latin, from Latin famēs hunger

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with famine

famine

see feast or famine.

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