lack

plural lacks

1. countableuncountableA deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want, dearth.

   It is a question of money, or lack of same.

   4 more examples

   […] let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation;

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing me down.

   1994, Green Day, “Basket Case”

   If Moldova harboured even the slightest hopes of pulling off a comeback that would have bordered on miraculous given their lack of quality, they were snuffed out 13 minutes before the break when Oxlade-Chamberlain picked his way through midfield before releasing Defoe for a finish that should have been dealt with more convincingly by Namasco at his near post.

   2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport

   More flak was aimed at the Treasury's apparent lack of marketing skills, when it was argued that its idea of how to sell tickets was along the lines of "you can get two tickets for the price of two", and it lacks the sales and promotional skills of the train operating companies which are needed to boost revenue.

   2022 January 12, Tom Allett, “Network News: MPs concerned at Treasury's influence on rail industry”, in RAIL, number 948, page 13

   Synonyms: paucity · Antonyms: glut, surplus, plethora

2. countableobsoleteuncountableA defect or failing; moral or spiritual degeneracy.

   In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

present singular third person lacks · participle present lacking · participle past lacked · past lacked

1. stativetransitiveTo be without, not to have, to need, to require.

   My life lacks excitement.

   1 more example

   More flak was aimed at the Treasury's apparent lack of marketing skills, when it was argued that its idea of how to sell tickets was along the lines of "you can get two tickets for the price of two", and it lacks the sales and promotional skills of the train operating companies which are needed to boost revenue.

   2022 January 12, Tom Allett, “Network News: MPs concerned at Treasury's influence on rail industry”, in RAIL, number 948, page 13

2. intransitiveTo be short (of or for something).

   He'll never lack for company while he's got all that money.

   1 more example

   Hamlet. What hour now? Horatio. I think it lacks of twelve.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

3. intransitiveobsoleteTo be in want.

   The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger […]

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 34:10

4. obsoleteTo see the deficiency in (someone or something); to find fault with, to malign, reproach.

   That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft / And ylakked my lemman.

   c. 1378-9, [William Langland], “[Passus II]”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...] (Cr, B-text), London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC

5. African-American VernacularTo be off one's guard.

   His opps caught him lacking.

plural lacks

1. archaicArchaic form of lakh.

   a lack of rupees