starves

Starves is the third-person singular present tense of the verb starve. It describes the act of suffering or causing suffering from a severe lack of food. It can be used intransitively, as in “The town starves during the siege,” or transitively, as in “They starve prisoners by withholding meals.” The related noun is starvation, the state of being deprived of adequate food; the noun hunger can describe the sensation or the broader phenomenon of food deprivation.

Etymology and usage: The word arises from historical English roots related to dying from lack of sustenance. The exact lineage is unclear, but the verb has long been used in contexts of famine, poverty, war, and neglect. In modern usage, starve often conveys acute deprivation or deliberate deprivation; starvation refers to the more severe, prolonged condition.

Impact and response: Starvation leads to severe malnutrition, weakened immunity, stunted growth in children, and increased mortality. It is typically the result of broader socioeconomic factors such as drought, conflict, inequality, and governance failures. Efforts to address starvation include emergency food aid, nutrition programs, development policies, and advocacy for food security. Deliberate starvation of civilians is widely condemned under international law as a violation of human rights and may constitute a war crime.