drought

[dɹʌʊt]noun

A long stretch of time with far less rain than normal, worse and longer than an ordinary dry spell.

Example sentence

“The farmers lost most of their crops during the summer drought.”

The gh is silent: it rhymes with 'out'. Sports writers borrow it for long winless stretches: 'a ten-year title drought'.

Related words

floodA large amount of water spreading over land that is normally dry, often after heavy rain and usually causing damage.humidHolding a noticeable amount of moisture; damp, especially describing air or weather.earthquakeA sudden trembling of the ground caused by shifts along faults in the earth or by volcanic activity.frostA thin layer of tiny ice crystals that forms on surfaces left out in cold air.wildlifeAnimals living free in nature, especially mammals, birds, and fish, rather than kept by people.snowAn occasion when snow falls; a snowfall or snowstorm.