lack, want, need

lack, want, need
Lack refers to a deficiency, to the absence of something desirable, customary, or needful: "He feels a lack of confidence among his followers." "I am suffering from a lack of money and time." Want and need, as nouns, may have much the same meaning: "a necessity," "something that is required or demanded." One may say "My wants (or my needs) are few." Need has connotations that give it an emotional appeal (a need to be loved). Approximate synonyms for lack and want include dearth, scarcity, inadequacy, deficit, and insufficiency. Distinctions among these words when used as verbs can be suggested by these sentences: "These plants lack water." "These plants want water." "These plants need water." In the first sentence, lack suggests deficiency; in the second, want suggests desire; in the third, need implies necessity.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • lack — vb Lack, want, need, require are comparable when meaning to be without something, especially something essential or greatly to be desired. Lack may imply either an absence or a shortage in the supply or amount of that something {the house lacks a …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • lack — /lak/, n. 1. deficiency or absence of something needed, desirable, or customary: lack of money; lack of skill. 2. something missing or needed: After he left, they really felt the lack. v.t. 3. to be without or deficient in: to lack ability; to… …   Universalium

  • lack — [[t]læk[/t]] n. 1) deficiency or absence of something needed or desirable: lack of money; lack of skill[/ex] 2) something missing or wanted: After he left, they really felt the lack[/ex] 3) cvb to be without; have need of: You lack common… …   From formal English to slang

  • want — See lack. See lack, want, need See want, wish …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • need — See lack. See lack, want, need …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • lack — See lack, want, need …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • need — [nēd] n. [ME nede < OE nied, akin to Ger not, Goth nauths < IE * neuti < base * neu , to collapse with weariness > Welsh newyn, starvation] 1. necessity or obligation created by some situation [no need to worry] 2. a lack of something …   English World dictionary

  • need — n Need, necessity, exigency may all denote either a state or condition requiring something as essential or indispensable or the thing required. Need implies pressure and urgency arising either from external or internal causes or forces; it may… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • want — verb. 1. Want is of Norse origin and came into English in the 13c. The dominant meaning in current usage is ‘to desire or wish for’ (Tom wants a computer for Christmas / What do you want to do now?), and a range of earlier meanings equivalent to… …   Modern English usage

  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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