hunger

Etymology 1

From Middle English hunger, from Old English hungor (“hunger, desire; famine”), from Proto-West Germanic *hungr, from Proto-Germanic *hungruz, *hunhruz (“hunger”), from Proto-Indo-European *kenk- (“to burn, smart, desire, hunger, thirst”). Cognate with West Frisian honger, hûnger (“hunger”), Dutch honger (“hunger”), German Low German Hunger (“hunger”), German Hunger (“hunger”), Swedish hunger (“hunger”), Icelandic hungur (“hunger”).

noun

1. A need or compelling desire for food.
2. (by extension) Any strong desire.
   I have a hunger to win.
   When gangsters bump my shit, can they feel my hunger? 2003, “What Up Gangsta”, in Curtis Jackson, Rob Tewlow (lyrics), Reef Tewlow (music), Get Rich or Die Tryin', performed by 50 Cent, New York City: Shady Records

Etymology 2

From Middle English hungren, from Old English hyngran, hyngrian, ġehyngrian (“to be hungry”), from Proto-West Germanic *hungrijan, from Proto-Germanic *hungrijaną.

verb

1. (intransitive) To be in need of food.
2. (figurative, intransitive, usually with 'for' or 'after') To have a desire (for); to long; to yearn.
   I hungered for your love.
   In our lives we hunger for those we cannot touch. 1993, The The, Love Is Stronger Than Death
3. (archaic, transitive) To make hungry; to famish.