famine

nounattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈfæm.ɪn//
Canada//ˈfæm.ən//
Australia//ˈfæm.ɪn//

Extreme shortage of food in a region.

noun

1
Extreme shortage of food in a region.
Dr. Bhatia pointed out that famine had occurred in all ages and in all societies where means of communication and transport were not developed.
2
A period of extreme shortage of food in a region.
1986, United States Congress, House Select Committee on Hunger, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Famine and Recovery in Africa The root causes of the current famine are known: poverty, low health standards....
3
datedStarvation or malnutrition.
His own flesh, however, which he lost by famine, shall be restored to him by Him who can recover even what has evaporated.
4
Severe shortage or lack of something.
the Lancashire Cotton Famine

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French famine, itself from the root of Latin fames.

Forms

plural: famines

fame · One's reputation.familiar · Known to one, or generally known; commonplace.family · A group of people who are closely related to one another (by…

famine · Extreme shortage of food in a region.

Famine · The personification of famine, often depicted riding a black…famished · Extremely hungry.famous · Well known.

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.