[, ]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