Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Middle Dutch
Origin: laken

lack

2 verb
     
lack2 W3
1 [transitive] to not have something that you need, or not have enough of it:
Alex's real problem is that he lacks confidence.
! Do not use the verb lack before 'in' or 'of': We lack ideas (NOT We lack in/of ideas). However, you can use the phrases be lacking in and a lack: We are lacking in ideas OR We have a lack of ideas.
2

not lack for something

formal to have a lot of something:
He does not lack for critics.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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