Lacking bite? (8)

I believe the answer is:

starving

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'lacking' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for starving that I've seen before include "feeling famished" , "Suffering from lack of food" , "Dying of hunger" , "certainly not scoffing" , "Ravenous, really hungry" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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