I. ˈlak, chiefly southern US dial ˈlīk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English laken, from Middle Dutch, to be lacking, to blame; akin to Middle Dutch lac lack, fault
intransitive verb
1. : to be wanting or missing : fail
nothing is lacking but the will
space lacks for a linguistic analysis — Eric Partridge
the sense of distance lacks; a ridge nearby can be a far-off mountain range — Paul Bowles
2. : to want supply or satisfaction : be short
enjoined the tapster to see to it that no one lacked for his thirst — Arnold Bennett
such language is comparatively lacking in responsibility — R.M.Weaver
transitive verb
1. : to be void or destitute of : be without or deficient in
what … the church lacks is democracy — Leo Pfeffer
lacked the ability to become a great singer — W.J.Reilly
this statement, like all simple statements, lacks detail — Charlton Laird
her voice may be flexible enough, but lacks the requisite strength — Lafcadio Hearn
2. obsolete : to feel the absence of : miss
you're loved, sir. They that least lend it you shall lack you first — Shakespeare
3. : to stand in need of : require , want — used formerly in the vendor's cry what do you lack?
Synonyms:
lack , want , need , and require can imply the absence of something, especially essential or to be desired. lack implies such an absence, especially due to shortage of supply
blankets were made of sage bark cords when rabbit skins were lacking — C.D.Forde
a delicacy of design that larger houses often lack — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
many languages lack grammatical person entirely — Weston La Barre
want in this application stresses a deplorable lack or adds to lack the idea of pressing desire or urgent necessity
an age wanting in moral grandeur — Matthew Arnold
an American truck that wanted only a few repairs — Richard Llewellyn
poverty-stricken and wanting even the necessities of existence
need is used more commonly than want in this context to stress necessity
what the business and industrial world most need and seek — R.W.McEwen
assist an increasing number of American families in finding the things they need and want — Annual Report J. C. Penney Corp.
both of these bridges are badly needed — Americana Annual
it only needed that the letter should be correctly addressed — H.E.Scudder
need food and clothing
require , similar to if not stronger than need in implying necessity, can also suggest the importunity of urgent desire or craving
he found his studies too easy to require serious attention — E.S.Bates
so ill as to require constant attendance
the continuing deficit requires either higher rates or a sales tax — New Republic
the reactor requires radically new metals to withstand great heats — Tris Coffin
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lac, from Middle Dutch, lack, fault; akin to Middle Low German lak lack, error, Old Norse lakr lacking, defective, Old Frisian lec damage, Old Norse leka to leak — more at leak
1. : the fact or state of being wanting or deficient : inadequate or missing supply or provision : deficiency , failure , want
explain the comparative lack of simian fossils — R.W.Murray
lack of true insight into human passion — A.T.Quiller-Couch
2. : that which is lacking : the thing needed
green forage is a lack of desert regions
Synonyms: see absence
III.
variant of lac