English
lack
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /lak/
  • (America) IPA: /læk/
Noun

lack

  1. (obsolete) A defect or failing; moral or spiritual degeneracy.
  2. A deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want.
    • circa 1596 William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1,
      […] let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation;
    • 1994, Green Day, Basket Case
      I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing me down.''
Antonyms Translations Verb

lack (lacks, present participle lacking; past and past participle lacked)

  1. (transitive) To be without, to need, to require.
    My life lacks excitement.
  2. (intransitive) To be short (of or for something).
    He'll never lack for company while he's got all that money.
    • circa 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 4,
      Hamlet. What hour now?
      Horatio. I think it lacks of twelve.
  3. (intransitive, obsolete) To be in want.
    • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Book of Psalms 34.10,
      The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger […]
  4. (obsolete) To see the deficiency in (someone or something); to find fault with, to malign, reproach.
    • c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, II:
      That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft / And ylakked my lemman.
Related terms Translations

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