Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - hunger

~1 n 1 lack of food, especially for a long period of time, that can cause illness or death; starvation  (Thousands of people are dying from hunger every day.) 2 the feeling that you need to eat  (Babies often cry from hunger. | hunger pangs (=sudden feelings of being hungry)) 3 hunger for a strong need or desire for something  (the West's hunger for material wealth) ~2 v literary to want something very much + for/after  (a nation hungering for change)