Definition of "lack" []

• Deficiency or absence: Lack of funding brought the project to a halt. (noun)
• A particular deficiency or absence: Owing to a lack of supporters, the reforms did not succeed. (noun)
• To be without or in need of: lacked the strength to lift the box. (verb-transitive)
• To be missing or deficient: We suspected that he was lying, but proof was lacking. (verb-intransitive)
• To be in need of something: She does not lack for friends. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In his remarks, President Obama referred again to what he called a lack of political will in Washington and an "insistence on drawing lines in the sand" that he said needs to be changed as the deficit and debt debate moves forward."
• "He also took to task Republicans, the Tea Party and what he called the lack of shared sacrifice in both the economy and the just-passed debt ceiling bill."
• "But in a brief telephone call from Athens after talks with Greek officials, Mr. Dallara expressed concern over what he called the "lack of clear process" to complete negotiations."