What does "drought" mean?

1. (lack of rain) a long period of time when there is little or no rain. 2. (lack of success) a long time without success or without getting something you want.

How do you use "drought"?

Often used with 'ending' or 'breaking' to describe the return of success.

drought

US //ˈdɹaʊt// UK //dɹˈaʊt// drought

1 lack of rain (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a long period of time when there is little or no rain.

a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, resulting in a water shortage that affects ecosystems and agriculture.

Example

The crops failed this year because of the severe drought that lasted all summer.

Example

The regional government declared a state of emergency after the drought depleted the reservoirs to less than twenty percent of their capacity.
- dry spell
- aridity
- flood
- deluge
2 lack of success (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Sport

a long time without success or without getting something you want.

a metaphorical extension referring to a prolonged period without achievement, production, or success, particularly in a competitive context.

Example

The team finally won a game, ending their three-month scoring drought.

Example

After a decade-long drought of critical acclaim, the novelist finally secured a major literary prize with her latest historical epic.

Usage

Often used with 'ending' or 'breaking' to describe the return of success.
- dry spell
- slump
- streak
- winning streak

Origin

From Middle English droughte, droghte, drouȝte, from Old English drūgaþ. Cognate with Dutch droogte, Low German Dröögde. By surface analysis, dry + -t (abstract nominal suffix).