absence

lack, want, absence, shortage, scarcity

这些名词均含“缺乏，不足”之意。
lack: 普通用词，指部分或完全的不足。
want: 指完全或短缺某物，侧重缺少之物是必需的东西。使用范围比lack窄些。
absence: 指某物根本不存在或完全短缺，或某人虽存在，但未到现场。
shortage: 指不足，但侧重达不到规定的，需要的或已知应有的数量。
scarcity: 指产量不足或缺乏某物难以应付或满足需要。

名词 absence:

1. the state of being absent
2. failure to be present
3. the time interval during which something or somebody is away
4. epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (a possible other abnormalities)
   同义词：petit mal epilepsy

1. His long absence raised fears about his safety.
   他长期不在引起了大家对他的安全的担心。
2. What was the real reason for your absence?
   你缺席的真正原因是什么？
3. We are in the absence of experience.
   我们缺乏经验。
4. We must invent an excuse for our absence.
   我们必须为缺席编造一个藉口。
5. Please look after my house during my absence.
   我不在时，请帮我看房子。