Reading Theme:
Hunger Definition: Physical Need and Strong Desire (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：physical need for food (hunger)
hunger
/ˈhʌŋɡər/
n.
A strong physical need to eat food because your body needs energy.
physical need for food
➕
/ˈfɪzɪkəl niːd fɔːr fuːd/
n.
The unpleasant feeling that your body needs food, caused by an empty stomach and low energy levels.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'hungor', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'honger' and German 'Hunger'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'HUNGER' = 'Hangry Under Need for GRub' (food).
📖 Example
After hiking all morning, I felt a deep hunger that only a big meal could satisfy.
After hiking all morning, I felt a deep hunger that only a big meal could satisfy.
🔗 Collocations
hunger for food – the need or desire to eat
hunger pangs – sharp temporary pains caused by hunger
satisfy hunger – to eat enough to stop feeling hungry
🔄 Synonyms
appetite (n.) – a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food
starvation (n.) – suffering or death caused by lack of food
craving (n.) – a powerful desire for something, often food
🚫 Antonyms
satiety (n.) – the state of being full and no longer needing food
fullness (n.) – the condition of having enough food in the stomach
satisfaction (n.) – fulfillment of a need or desire, especially for food
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'hunger' has remained stable across Germanic languages for over a thousand years. In literature, it often symbolizes deep desire, e.g., 'hunger for justice'.
Meaning 2：strong desire for something (hunger)
hunger
/ˈhʌŋɡər/
n.
A very strong desire or wish for something, not just food.
strong desire for something
➕
/strɔːŋ dɪˈzaɪər fɔːr ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
n.
An intense, often persistent longing for something other than food, such as knowledge, success, or power.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She has a hunger for knowledge and spends hours reading books in the library every day.
She has a hunger for knowledge and spends hours reading books in the library every day.
🔗 Collocations
hunger for knowledge – an intense desire to learn or understand
hunger for success – a strong drive to achieve recognition or goals
hunger for power – a deep craving to control or influence others
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
indifference (n.) – lack of interest or concern
apathy (n.) – absence of emotion or motivation
disinterest (n.) – lack of desire or curiosity
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