Tra từ lack - Từ điển tiếng Anh - Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

lack UK US [læk] noun [ lacks ]
lack of sth
<E > when something is not available or when there is not enough of it
• Her only problem is lack of confidence.
• Lack of sleep had made him irritable.
• If he fails it won't be for/through lack of effort (= he has certainly tried).
• We won't be going on holiday this year - lack of funds, I'm afraid.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Lacking things ↑Essential or necessary ↑Scarce, inadequate and not enough

Collocations:
Prepositions
lack of sth
• The event was cancelled owing to lack of interest.
because of due to from owing to through a lack of sth
• The youth club closed because of a lack of volunteers to run it.
despite a/sb's lack of sth
• We decided to climb the mountain despite our lack of experience.
for lack of sth
• If I don't pass the exam, it won't be for lack of trying.
Nouns
lack of ambition confidence courage discipline enthusiasm imagination
• Her work shows a lack of imagination.
lack of attention awareness communication concentration concern consideration cooperation interest respect support understanding
• Lack of attention in class meant I failed to learn French.
lack of cash evidence funds money resources space
• The police had to release him because of lack of evidence.
lack of action advice effort experience knowledge
• There has been a distinct lack of action around here.
lack of access choice clarity consistency control direction progress
• I detected a lack of progress on the building front.
lack of exercise food oxygen sleep
• The baby was brain damaged because of lack of oxygen.
Adjectives
an alarming appalling serious lack of sth
• There was an appalling lack of hygiene in the restaurant.
an apparent general real relative lack of sth
• There is an apparent lack of trust in the management here.
a complete distinct marked total lack of sth
• There is a distinct lack of discipline in her class.
lack of adequate available good sth
• The lack of adequate food was a constant problem.
Verbs
be caused by be exacerbated by be hampered by suffer from a lack of sth
• The illness was caused by a lack of fresh produce in their diets.
cite express show a lack of sth
• They cited lack of money as their main reason for leaving college.
bemoan complain about criticize the lack of sth
• The report criticized the lack of leadership within the organization.
make up for the lack of sth
• Their enthusiasm almost makes up for their lack of experience.

verb transitive
<E > to not have or not have enough of something that is needed or wanted
• He just lacks a little confidence.
• What we lack in this house is space to store things.
• We are lacking three members of staff due to illness.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Lacking things ↑Essential or necessary ↑Scarce, inadequate and not enough

Common errors:
Remember that when lack is a verb it is never followed by 'of'.
Don't say 'something lacks of something', say something lacks something:
✗ Our town lacks of a good shopping centre.
• Our town lacks a good shopping centre.

• They've won a few matches this season but they lack consistency.
• They lack basic foodstuffs, such as bread and milk.
• He lacks the necessary skills for the job.
• The town lacks leisure facilities such as a swimming pool or squash courts.
• Joshua clearly has ability in this subject but he lacks application.