starvation
noun [ U ] uk/stɑːˈveɪ.ʃən/ us/stɑːrˈveɪ.ʃən/
C2 （常造成死亡的）饥饿，挨饿
the state of having no food for a long period, often causing death
20 million people face starvation unless a vast emergency aid programme is launched. 若不启动大型的紧急援助项目，两千万人将有饿死的危险。
The animals had died of starvation. 这些动物饿死了。
figurative They pay starvation wages (= not enough money to live on). 他们付的工钱极少，不够维持基本的生活。