famine

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++fam·ine /ˈfæmɪn/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable]  HUNGRY/STARVINGa situation in which a large number of people have little or no food for a long time and many people die 饥荒，饥馑 the great potato famine in Ireland 爱尔兰严重的土豆荒severe/widespread famine Widespread famine had triggered a number of violent protests. 大面积饥荒已引发数起暴力抗议事件。 A million people are facing famine. 一百万人正面临饥荒。

Examples from the Corpus

famine• Also invoked against famine and plagues.• Similarly, it is indefensible to be inactive in the face of third world poverty and famine.• Millions of people in Africa continue to die because of war and famine.• Paradoxically, it was the grain-surplus areas which were most at risk of severe deprivation and periodic famine.• Since the seed for this year's crops has been eaten, the risk of a prolonged famine is increasing.• In this way famine can be prevented now and in the future.• The four-year drought has caused widespread famine across Afghanistan.facing famine• United Nations experts say as many as four million people are facing famine after a severe drought and crop failure.Origin famine (1300-1400) French Latin fames “hungry condition”

fam·ine nounChineseSyllable  

Corpus people have in a of a number situation large which

famine
fam‧ine /ˈfæmən, ˈfæmɪn/ noun [uncountable and countable]a situation in which a large number of people have little or no food for a long time and many people die:
    the great potato famine in Ireland
    severe/widespread famine
    Widespread famine had triggered a number of violent protests.
    A million people are facing famine.
     

THESAURUS

■ natural disasters
   ▪ earthquake a sudden shaking of the earth’s surface that often causes a lot of damage: A powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. | It was the biggest earthquake to hit the Pacific Northwest for 52 years.
   ▪ flood a very large amount of water that covers an area that is usually dry: Bangladesh has been hit by a series of devastating floods (=very bad floods). | The crisis began with floods that covered one third of the countryside.
   ▪ drought a long period of dry weather when there is not enough water for plants and animals to live: The country experienced its worst drought this century. | In East Africa, three years of drought have left 10 million people in urgent need of food and water.
   ▪ famine a situation in which a large number of people have little or no food for a long time and many people die: Poor harvests led to famine. | 4,000,000 people are threatened by famine in northern Ethiopia.
   ▪ hurricane a storm that has very strong fast winds and that moves over water – used about storms in the North Atlantic Ocean: extreme weather such as hurricanes | Hurricane Andrew left southern Florida in ruins.
   ▪ typhoon a violent tropical storm – used about storms in the Western Pacific Ocean: A typhoon has hit the Philippines, lifting roofs off houses and uprooting trees.
   ▪ tsunami a very large wave, caused by extreme conditions such as an earthquake, which can cause a lot of damage when it reaches land: Thousands of people were killed in the tsunami. | Many Pacific earthquakes have generated tsunamis.

fam·ineBrE /ˈfæmɪn/ 🔊NAmE /ˈfæmɪn/ 🔊 noun [countable, uncountable] a lack of food during a long period of time in a region 饥荒◆a severe famine严重饥荒◆disasters such as floods and famine水灾和饥荒这一类灾难◆the threat of widespread famine in the area这一地区内大范围的饥荒威胁◆to raise money for famine relief 为赈济饥荒筹款