lack

Everyday

1. To lack means not to have something, or not to have enough of it. tree →
2. A lack is not having enough: a lack of sleep, a lack of water. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a shortage: how many more are needed to reach a whole set or an amount: needed = goal − have; «lacks 3» means 3 more are needed. In science: plants die from a lack of water or light. In health: a lack of sleep makes you tired. Phrases: lack of, for lack of, lack nothing.

Examples

• He lacks $3 to buy the book. tree →
• The team lacks 2 players. tree →
• The class lacks 5 chairs. tree →
• How much does she lack to have 50? tree →
• The plants died from a lack of water. tree →
• A lack of sleep makes it hard to think. tree →
• The town lacks a swimming pool. tree →
• The game was stopped for lack of light. tree →
• There was no lack of society at our home. tree →

Note

Verb without «of»: «he lacks money», noun with «of»: «a lack of money». Needed = goal − have; «lacks 3» means 3 more are needed. Trap: it is not the amount left over.

In Jewish tradition

In the manna story, those who gathered little did not lack, and in Abraham's plea it means being short of righteous people. Later books use it for lacking oil, food or instruction, and for a lack that leads to ruin.

Interpretation. The rabbis read the manna as teaching trust that God gives each person what they need each day. Proverbs links lack of instruction with downfall, which tradition takes as a reason to value learning.

Examples

• And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. (Torah EXO.16.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. (Torah DEU.8.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.' (Torah GEN.18.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no oil. (Writings ECC.9.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad. (Writings JOB.4.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel. (Writings PRO.5.23, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Verb without «of»: «he lacks money», noun with «of»: «a lack of money». Needed = goal − have; «lacks 3» means 3 more are needed. Trap: it is not the amount left over.