(; ) the amount by which money that a government or business spends or owes is greater than money received in a particular period of time 赤字；亏损；逆差◆Germany was running a budget deficit of 3.75 per cent. 德国的预算赤字率为 3.75%。◆The trade balance is in deficit. 贸易收支为逆差。◆an annual operating deficit 年度经营赤字◆the government/federal deficit 政府／联邦赤字➡surplus ⨁a high / large / low / modest / small deficit 高额的／巨大的／较低的／适度的／小额的赤字⨁to face / have / run / show a deficit (of sth) 面对／存在／出现／显示有（某方面的）赤字⨁to cut / eliminate / make up / reduce a deficit 削减／消除／弥补／减少赤字⨁a deficit grows / narrows / shrinks / widens (from/to sth) 赤字增加／缩小／扩大⨁to finance / fund a deficit 为弥补赤字提供资金
[] the amount by which sth, especially an amount of money, is too small or smaller than sth else 不足额；缺少额；亏损；缺少◆The group claims it can make up the $47 million deficit in its pension fund. 集团声称可以弥补 4 700 万元的养老基金缺口。◆The industry has shown a deficit of creativity and innovation. 这行业缺乏创意和创新能力。