[, ]a situation when there is not enough of the people or things that are needed不足；缺乏；缺少◆a shortage of funds/space资金／空间不足◆There are serious labour shortages in some sectors.某些部门存在严重的劳动力短缺问题。◆There was no shortage of candidates (= there were a lot) for the post.适合这个职位的人很多。OPPglut ➡surplus ⨁an acute / a chronic / critical / serious / severe shortage长期不足；严重不足⨁a cash / parts / supply shortage现金／零部件／供应短缺⨁labour / skills / staff / talent shortages劳动力／技能／人员／人才短缺⨁to face / suffer a shortage面临／经受短缺⨁to cause / create / lead to a shortage导致／产生／引发短缺⨁to combat / ease / overcome / prevent a shortage战胜／缓解／克服／防止短缺