lack

Noun · Verb

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable“there is a serious lack of insight into the problem”“water is the critical deficiency in desert regions”“for want of a nail the shoe was lost”Synonyms: deficiency want

Verb (1)

be without“This soup lacks salt”“There is something missing in my jewelry box!”Synonyms: miss

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Lac \Lac\ (l[a^]k), Lakh \Lakh\ (l[aum]k), n. [Hind. lak, l[=a]kh, l[=a]ksh, Skr. laksha a mark, sign, lakh.] One hundred thousand; also, a vaguely great number; as, a lac of rupees. [Written also lack.] [East Indies] [1913 Webster]

Lack \Lack\, v. i.

1.To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc. [1913 Webster]

What hour now? I think it lacks of twelve.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty.— Gen. xvii. 28.[1913 Webster]

2.To be in want. [1913 Webster]

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger.— Ps. xxxiv. 10.[1913 Webster]

Lack \Lack\ (l[a^]k), n. [OE. lak; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan, AS. le['a]n.]

1.Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2.Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of sufficient food. [1913 Webster]

She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

Let his lack of years be no impediment.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Lack \Lack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacked (l[a^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking.]

1.To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Love them and lakke them not.— Piers Plowman.[1913 Webster]

2.To be without or destitute of; to want; to need. [1913 Webster]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.— James i. 5.[1913 Webster]

Lack \Lack\, interj. [Cf. Alack.] Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.] --Cowper. [1913 Webster]