Definition of "hunger"

hunger¹

/ˈhʌŋɡə/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural hungers
1. A need or compelling desire for food.
2. (by extension) Any strong desire.
  Quotations
  O sacred hunger of ambitious minds!
  1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 1
  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

hunger²

/ˈhʌŋɡə/

verb
third-person singular simple present hungers, present participle hungering, simple past and past participle hungered
1. (intransitive) To be in need of food.
  Quotations
  Therefore if thine enemie hunger, feed him: if he thirst, giue him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Romans 12:20
2. (figuratively, intransitive, usually with 'for' or 'after') To have a desire (for); to long; to yearn.
  Quotations
  Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse: for they shall be filled.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Matthew 5:6
  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.