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Drought
A drought or drouth is a natural disaster of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region and harm to the local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase the chances of a drought developing and subsequent bush fires. Periods of heat can significantly worsen drought conditions by hastening evaporation of water vapour.
Many plant species, such as those in the family Cactaceae (or cacti), have drought tolerance adaptations like reduced leaf area and waxy cuticles to enhance their ability to tolerate drought. Some others survive dry periods as buried seeds. Semi-permanent drought produces arid biomes such as deserts and grasslands. Prolonged droughts have caused mass migrations and humanitarian crisis. Most arid ecosystems have inherently low productivity. The most prolonged drought ever in the world in recorded history occurred in the Atacama Desert in Chile (400 Years).
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Draught (noun)
in its various senses.
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Draught (noun)
A checker: a game piece used in the game of draughts.
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Draught (noun)
Ale: a type of beer brewed using top-fermenting yeast.
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Draught (noun)
A mild vesicatory.
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Draught (noun)
An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
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Draught (noun)
Any picture or drawing.
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Draught (noun)
A sudden attack upon an enemy.
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Draught (verb)
alternative spelling of draft|from=British spelling
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Drought (noun)
A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.
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Drought (noun)
A longer than expected term without success, particularly in sport.
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Draught (noun)
a current of cool air in a room or other confined space
“heavy curtains at the windows cut out draughts”
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Draught (noun)
a single act of drinking or inhaling
“she downed the remaining beer in one draught”
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Draught (noun)
the amount swallowed or inhaled in a draught
“he took deep draughts of oxygen into his lungs”
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Draught (noun)
a quantity of a liquid with medicinal properties
“a sleeping draught”
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Draught (noun)
the depth of water needed to float a ship
“the shallow draught enabled her to get close inshore”
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Draught (noun)
the drawing in of a fishing net.
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Draught (noun)
the fish taken at one drawing; a catch.
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Draught (adjective)
denoting beer or cider served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can
“draught ale”
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Draught (adjective)
denoting an animal used for pulling heavy loads
“a draught horse”
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Drought (noun)
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water
“the cause of Europe’s recent droughts”
“crops have failed because of drought”
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Drought (noun)
a prolonged absence of a specified thing
“he ended a five-game goal drought”
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Drought (noun)
thirst
“I asked for something to slake my drought”