饿死 is a compound verb meaning 'to starve to death' — literally 'hungry' (饿) + 'die' (死). It describes the fatal outcome of prolonged, severe lack of food. Unlike general terms for 'dying', 饿死 specifically emphasizes starvation as the direct cause, often implying helplessness, neglect, or extreme hardship. It carries strong emotional weight and is frequently used in historical, literary, or humanitarian contexts.

The word functions as a single transitive or intransitive verb: it can take a subject ('He starved to death') or appear with an agent ('They were left to starve to death'). It’s rarely used lightly or humorously; even figurative uses (e.g., joking about skipping lunch) are uncommon and may sound insensitive. In modern usage, it appears most often in discussions of famine, poverty, animal welfare, or historical suffering.