shortage
/'ʃɔ:tidʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A state or situation in which there is not enough of something that is needed; a deficiency. This refers to an inadequate supply or amount of something required. 2. The amount by which something, especially a supply, falls short of what is required or expected. This quantifies the specific gap or deficit.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The severe drought led to a critical shortage of drinking water in the region.
- Many hospitals are experiencing a shortage of qualified nurses.
- There is a projected shortage of 500 units, so we need to increase production.
Advanced Usage
- "to make up for a shortage": to compensate for or fill a deficit.
- Imports were increased to make up for the domestic food shortage.
- "a chronic shortage": a long-lasting or persistent deficiency.
- The city faces a chronic shortage of affordable housing.
Variants and Related Words
- Short (adj): lacking an adequate quantity; less than the required amount.
- We are short on time.
- Shortfall (n): a deficit of something required or expected, often used interchangeably with the second definition of "shortage."
- The company reported a revenue shortfall this quarter.
Synonyms
- Deficit: The amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.
- Scarcity: The state of being in short supply.
- Insufficiency: The condition of being inadequate.
Related Phrases
- Supply shortage: A specific lack of available goods or materials.
- The global chip supply shortage affected car manufacturers.
- Labor shortage: A situation where there are not enough workers to fill available jobs.
- The restaurant had to reduce its hours due to a labor shortage.
Noun
- an acute insufficiency
- the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
- new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit