famine

She recalls that during the famine her father illegally sold gold and silver.
How ‘Titanic ’Helped This Brave Young Woman Escape North Korea’s Totalitarian State|Lizzie Crocker|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“These people were coming here from tragic situations of war and famine in search of a better life,” he told The Daily Beast.
Italy: Migrants Dying en Masse|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Famine and frigid temperatures ensued, and roughly 10 percent of the population died.
When the Weather Went All Medieval: Climate Change, Famine, and Mass Death|Wendy Smith|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At other times, North Korea might want aid economic and food concessions, especially during periods of hardship and famine.
Is North Korea Collecting American Hostages?|Kyle Mizokami|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Famine will stalk the land and as many as seven million people will confront extreme food insecurity—in short, starvation.
Preventing Genocide In South Sudan|Eric Reeves, John Prendergast|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never, never would he eat cheese again unless the hand of famine gripped him.
Kenny|Leona Dalrymple
Hundreds of thousands of people used to perish by famine and disease year after year.
The Library of Work and Play: Mechanics, Indoors and Out|Fred T. Hodgson
All kinds of calamities overspread the earth and decimated the race,--war, pestilence, and famine.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume IV|John Lord
During a famine a rich man offered to supply a vast store of grain for public use provided he was made a deacon.
Curiosities of Christian History|Croake James
An' small thanks I gets—me that keeps this harbor alive, in famine an' plenty.
Harbor Tales Down North|Norman Duncan

British Dictionary definitions for famine

famine

/ (ˈfæmɪn) /

noun

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

acute shortage of anything

violent hunger

Word Origin for famine

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

Idioms and Phrases with famine

famine

see feast or famine.