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Drought: meaning, definitions and examples

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drought

 

[ draʊt ]

Noun
The environment
Context #1 | Noun

weather

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

Synonyms

arid period, dry spell, water shortage.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
drought

Used when there is a prolonged period of below-average rainfall leading to a shortage of water. Commonly used in environmental, agricultural, and meteorological contexts.

  • The farmers are worried about the severe drought affecting their crops
dry spell

Casual term used to describe a shorter period without rain. It's less severe than 'drought' and often used in informal speech.

  • We've had a bit of a dry spell this summer, but it should rain soon
arid period

Often used in scientific and environmental contexts to describe a specific duration of dryness, usually in desert regions or climates that are naturally dry.

  • The Sahara Desert experiences long arid periods with very little rainfall
water shortage

Used to describe the lack of sufficient water supply often due to drought but can also be caused by infrastructure problems or high demand. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • There is a water shortage in the city, and residents have been asked to conserve water

Examples of usage

  • The drought in California has caused water restrictions for residents.
  • Farmers are struggling to grow crops due to the ongoing drought.
  • Many regions around the world are experiencing severe drought conditions.
  • The drought has affected the local ecosystem, leading to wildlife struggles.
  • Efforts are being made to conserve water during the drought.

Translations

Translations of the word "drought" in other languages:

🇵🇹 seca

🇮🇳 सूखा (sukha)

🇩🇪 Dürre

🇮🇩 kekeringan

🇺🇦 посуха

🇵🇱 susza

🇯🇵 干ばつ (kanbatsu)

🇫🇷 sécheresse

🇪🇸 sequía

🇹🇷 kuraklık

🇰🇷 가뭄 (gamum)

🇸🇦 جفاف (jafaf)

🇨🇿 sucho

🇸🇰 sucho

🇨🇳 干旱 (gānhàn)

🇸🇮 suša

🇮🇸 þurrkur

🇰🇿 құрғақшылық (qurğaqşılıq)

🇬🇪 გვალვა (gvalva)

🇦🇿 quraqlıq

🇲🇽 sequía

Etymology

The word 'drought' originates from the Old English word 'drugoth', which means 'dryness'. It has been used in the English language for centuries to describe a period of unusually low rainfall. Droughts have been a recurring natural phenomenon throughout history, impacting agriculture, economies, and ecosystems. The severity and frequency of droughts have become a growing concern due to climate change and human activities.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,442 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.