Undernourish: meaning, definitions and examples

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undernourish

 

[ ˌʌndərˈnʊrɪʃ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

health deficiency

To undenourish means to provide insufficient nutrients to someone or something, leading to poor health and growth. This term is often used in medical or nutritional contexts to describe a state where an individual, especially a child, does not receive adequate food to fulfill their dietary needs.

Synonyms

deprive, malnourish, starve

Examples of usage

  • The child's health deteriorated because they were undenourished.
  • Many people in developing countries are undenourished due to lack of access to nutritious food.
  • Undernourished animals experience stunted growth.

Translations

Translations of the word "undernourish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desnutrir

🇮🇳 अपर्याप्त पोषण देना

🇩🇪 unterernähren

🇮🇩 kekurangan gizi

🇺🇦 недооснащувати

🇵🇱 niedożywiać

🇯🇵 栄養不足にする

🇫🇷 sous-alimenter

🇪🇸 desnutrir

🇹🇷 yetersiz beslemek

🇰🇷 영양 부족하게 하다

🇸🇦 تغذية غير كافية

🇨🇿 podvyživit

🇸🇰 podvýživiť

🇨🇳 营养不足

🇸🇮 podhraniti

🇮🇸 næringarþurrka

🇰🇿 жетіспеушілік тудыру

🇬🇪 არასწორად კვება

🇦🇿 qida çatışmazlığına uğratmaq

🇲🇽 desnutrir

Etymology

The term 'undernourish' combines the prefix 'under-' meaning insufficient or less than, with 'nourish', which comes from the Latin word 'nourire' meaning 'to feed' or 'to nourish'. The concept of nourishment has been crucial throughout history, as societies have continually evolved in their understanding of dietary needs and the importance of food for health and development. Initially used in the 19th century with a focus on child health, it became more prominent in discussions about food scarcity and malnutrition, reflecting social responsibilities and health policies in various cultures. Today, the term is frequently discussed in the context of public health, nutrition education, and socioeconomic issues concerning access to food.