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# shortage

noun (shortage, shortages)

«shortage» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A shortage is when there is not enough of something that is needed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#m1)

### In the lessons

how many are missing: shortage = what is needed − what there is; in geography and science: a water shortage in a drought, a food shortage; in everyday life: a shortage of teachers or nurses; save water to help in a shortage; phrases: «a shortage of», «water shortage», «in short supply»

### Examples

- There are 25 pupils and only 20 books, a shortage of 5. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x1)
- The school needs 60 chairs but has 48. What is the shortage? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x2)
- Because of a shortage, each child got 2 pencils instead of 3. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x3)
- The shortage of water was 200 litres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x4)
- During the drought there was a water shortage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x5)
- Turn off the tap to save water during a shortage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x6)
- There is a shortage of nurses in the hospital. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x7)
- A shortage of rain dried up the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/#x8)

### Note

Points to a difference: shortage = need − have (60 − 48 = 12). Opposite of surplus. Trap: take the smaller amount from the bigger one, not the other way round. From «short» (not enough) + -age.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «shortage» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shortage/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«shortage» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shortage.html) on Mova free.