noun
or drouth ˈdrau̇]th, ]t, or +V ]d.; sometimes -rȯ]
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English drougth, drought, drouth, from Old English drūgath, drūgoth, from drūgian to dry up, wither, from the root of drȳge dry — more at dry
1. archaic : the condition or quality of being dry : dryness : lack of moisture
the drought of the sun-baked ground
crickets sing at the oven's mouth … the blither for their drought — Shakespeare
2. : a period of dryness especially protracted and causing extensive damage to crops or preventing their successful growth
3. now dialect : a thirst usually for alcoholic drink
there's a great drought on me, and the night is young — J.M.Synge
4. : a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something that is needed or desired
behind the candy scarcity lies the sugar drought — Wall Street Journal
suffering from a drought of intellect and sensitivity