Drought vs. Famine

Droughtnoun

A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.

Droughtnoun

A longer than expected term without success, particularly in sport.

Droughtnoun

Dryness; want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the weather as affects the earth, and prevents the growth of plants; aridity.

Droughtnoun

Thirst; want of drink.

Droughtnoun

Scarcity; lack.

Droughtnoun

a temporary shortage of rainfall

Droughtnoun

a prolonged shortage

Droughtnoun

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

Droughtnoun

a prolonged absence of a specified thing

Droughtnoun

thirst

Drought

A drought is an event of prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric (below-average precipitation), surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days.

Faminenoun

(uncountable) Extreme shortage of food in a region.

Faminenoun

(countable) A period of extreme shortage of food in a region.

Faminenoun

(dated) Starvation or malnutrition.

Faminenoun

Severe shortage or lack of something.

Faminenoun

General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions; destitution.

Faminenoun

an acute insufficiency

Faminenoun

a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death

Famine

A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including war, inflation, crop failure, population imbalance, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality.