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famine

fam·ine [ ˈfa-mən]

famine

noun

[ˈfa-mən]

Definition of famine

1 : an extreme scarcity of food
//The famine affected most of the country.

2 archaic : starvation

3 archaic : a ravenous appetite

4 : a great shortage
//Transportation problems resulted in a coal famine.

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Synonyms

Synonyms: Antonyms

Recent Examples on the Web

//It is known as the Famine Church, because it was built for and by the huge influx Irish famine refugees in the mid-19th century.
— Carmel Mc Mahon, Longreads, "Brigid, Magdalene, My Mother, and Me," 13 Nov. 2019
//With costumed tour guides telling the story of the journey by boat to the United States in the 18440s, the famine ship experience comes to life.
— Amy Nelson, Twin Cities, "A Jewel to Explore: The Emerald Isle of Ireland offers rich history and modern delights," 4 Nov. 2019
//Papers published after his death show Zhou reporting rural starvation to the chairman—though without identifying the famine’s cause, namely Mao’s own policies.
— The Economist, "Some thank Zhou Enlai for saving China from Mao’s excesses," 24 Oct. 2019
//The fighting in the Arab world’s poorest country has killed tens of thousands of people and left millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
— Ahmed Al-haj, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Yemeni officials say explosive device has killed 4 children," 8 Oct. 2019
//The jury is still out on humans, but the new studies suggest traumas like losing a parent, fighting in a war, or starving during a famine could affect the genes of generations to come.
— Eva Frederick, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: How pig fat built Stonehenge, inherited trauma, and an international Ebola emergency," 19 July 2019
//Also, North Korea was on the brink of a devastating famine that would go on to kill as much as ten per cent of the population.
— Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, "The Early Life of Kim Jong Un," 14 June 2019
//Rizpah, Lord Alfred Tennyson in 1878 During David’s reign, the people of Gibeon demanded that all of Saul’s children be put to death so as to atone for a severe famine.
— National Geographic, "King David’s rise to power cost one woman everything," 2 Apr. 2019
//This year’s harvest was almost entirely destroyed, and there’s potential for a famine if aid doesn’t make up the difference.
— Kelsey Piper, Vox, "Why disaster relief is so hard," 25 Mar. 2019

First Known Use of famine

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for famine

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames

Dictionary Entries near famine