Pronunciation: [stˈɑːvɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "starving" is spelled with an "a" after the "r" because it is pronounced with the "ar" sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈstɑːvɪŋ/. The symbol "a" represents the "ɑː" sound, which is a low, back vowel. The "r" is pronounced with a slight rhotic accent, creating the "ɑr" sound. The "v" is pronounced as a voiced fricative, while the "i" is pronounced as a short, lax vowel.
The term "starving" refers to a condition of extreme hunger and malnutrition experienced by an individual. It is a verb that describes the state in which a person or animal suffers from severe deprivation of food and essential nutrients necessary for survival and healthy bodily function. The sensation of hunger experienced during starvation is intensified, typically leading to physical weakness, emaciation, and deterioration of the body.
In general, starvation is a result of insufficient intake of calories and nutrients over an extended period. It can occur due to limited food availability, prolonged fasting, or as a consequence of poverty, war, or natural disasters. When the body is deprived of essential nutrients for an extended time, it starts to break down its own tissue, including fat, muscle, and organs, in order to obtain energy, leading to severe weight loss.
Severe starvation can have drastic consequences on overall health, leading to weakened immune system, vulnerability to infections and diseases, impaired mental function, organ failure, and ultimately, death. To address starvation, it is crucial to promptly provide adequate and nutritious food to affected individuals, along with medical attention when necessary.
The term "starving" can also be used informally to describe a situation where one feels very hungry, although not necessarily suffering from extreme deprivation. In this context, it signifies a strong desire or craving for food.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "starving" has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English word "stearf" or "steorfan", which meant "to die" or "to perish". This word later evolved into the Middle English term "sterven", which retained the same meaning. Eventually, the word "starve" emerged in the late 15th century, derived from the Middle English "sterven". Over time, "starve" started to refer specifically to the condition of suffering from extreme hunger or deprivation. Thus, the word "starving" came to describe a state of severe hunger or starvation.
