The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word HUNGER
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
H
U
N
G
E
R
More clues leading to the result HUNGER
- Someone who seeks to relinquish one extreme for another in tasting desire
- Great desire suspended by monarch
- The woman traps animal, reflecting need for food
- Two Germans ache
- Desire shown by warlike invader taking country, destroying lots
- This strike would pose an empty threat
- An unsustained desire
- One in France detained by hard German showing strong desire
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "need for food" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case need for food = hunger.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HUNGER mean?
HUNGER noun- A need or compelling desire for food.
- (by extension) Any strong desire.
- To be in need of food.
- (usually with 'for' or 'after') To have a desire (for); to long; to yearn.
- To make hungry; to famish.