starveling

UK: /ˈstɑːvlɪŋ/ US: (stärv′ling)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

starve•ling  (stärv′ling), n. 

1. a person, animal, or plant that is starving.

adj. 

2. Pathology starving;
   suffering from lack of nourishment.
3. pining with want.
4. poverty-stricken.
5. poor in condition or quality.
6. such as to entail or suggest starvation.

• starve + -ling¹ 1540–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

starveling / ˈstɑːvlɪŋ/ noun

1. a starving or poorly fed person, animal, etc
2. (as modifier): a starveling child

adjective

1. insufficient; meagre; scant

Etymology: 16th Century: from starve + -ling¹