'Shortage' definitions:

Definition of 'shortage'

From: WordNet
noun
The property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required; "new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit" [syn: deficit, shortage, shortfall]
noun
An acute insufficiency [syn: dearth, famine, shortage]

Definition of 'Shortage'

From: GCIDE
  • Shortage \Short"age\, n. Amount or extent of deficiency, as determined by some requirement or standard; as, a shortage in money accounts. [1913 Webster]