lacking
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.
lack
(lăk)n.
1. Deficiency or absence: Lack of funding brought the project to a halt.
2. A particular deficiency or absence: Owing to a lack of supporters, the reforms did not succeed.
v. lacked, lack·ing, lacks
v.tr.
To be without or in need of: lacked the strength to lift the box.
v.intr.
1. To be missing or deficient: We suspected that he was lying, but proof was lacking.
2. To be in need of something: She does not lack for friends.
[Middle English, perhaps from Middle Dutch lac, deficiency, fault.]
Usage Note: When lack is used in the sense "to be wanting or deficient," it is typically followed by in: You will not be lacking in support from me. When lack is used in the sense of "to be in need of something," it is often followed by for: "In the terrible, beautiful age of my prime, / I lacked for sweet linen but never for time" (E.B. White).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lacking
(ˈlakɪŋ)adj
missing or absentdeficient in or not having enough ofinadequate; not good enough
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | lacking - inadequate in amount or degree; "a deficient education"; "deficient in common sense"; "lacking in stamina"; "tested and found wanting" inadequate, unequal - lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task; "inadequate training"; "the staff was inadequate"; "she was unequal to the task" |
2. | lacking - nonexistent; "the thumb is absent"; "her appetite was lacking" nonexistent - not having existence or being or actuality; "chimeras are nonexistent" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
lacking
adjective deficient, wanting, needing, missing, inadequate, minus (informal), flawed, impaired, sans (archaic) Why was military intelligence so lacking?
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
lacking
adjective1. Lacking an essential element:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
lacking
[ˈlakɪŋ] adj (= deficient) to be lacking in sth [+ confidence, imagination, talent] → manquer de qch
Are you frequently lacking in energy and motivation? → Vous arrive-t-il fréquemment de manquer d'énergie et de motivation?
Are these youngsters so lacking in imagination that all they can think of to do is set cars on fire? → Ces jeunes manquent-ils à ce point d'imagination qu'ils ne trouvent rien d'autre à faire que brûler des voitures?
Are you frequently lacking in energy and motivation? → Vous arrive-t-il fréquemment de manquer d'énergie et de motivation?
Are these youngsters so lacking in imagination that all they can think of to do is set cars on fire? → Ces jeunes manquent-ils à ce point d'imagination qu'ils ne trouvent rien d'autre à faire que brûler des voitures?
(= inadequate) → déficient(e)
Why was military intelligence so lacking? → Pourquoi le renseignement militaire a-t-il été si déficient?
Why was military intelligence so lacking? → Pourquoi le renseignement militaire a-t-il été si déficient?
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lacking
adj
to be found lacking → sich nicht bewähren, der Sache (dat) → nicht gewachsen sein; they were not found lacking → sie waren der Sache (dat) → gewachsen
(inf) → geistig minderbemittelt (inf), → beschränkt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007