1. U C 缺席；不在　the fact of sb being away from a place where they are usually expected to be; the occasion or period of time when sb is away
2. C 不存在；缺乏　the fact of sb/sth not existing or not being available; non-existence; lack

　account for one's ～　说明缺席的原因
　mark the ～ of students　记录学生的缺席
　constant ～　经常缺席
　enforced ～　被迫离开
　excused ～　因故缺席
　frequent ～ from work　屡次缺勤
　momentary ～　短暂的离开
　numerous ～s　数次缺席
　occasional ～　偶尔缺席
　short ～　短时间离开
　temporary ～　暂时离开
　three-year ～　离开三年
　unavoidable ～　不得已的缺席
　unexcused ～　无故缺席
　business ～　因事缺席
　～ rate　缺勤率
　short meetings between long ～s　相隔很久的短暂相会
　be conspicuous by one's ～　因缺席而引人注目
　during sb's ～　在某人不在时，在某人离开时
　return from a day's ～　离开一天后回来
　sentence sb in his ～　对某人进行缺席宣判
　in sb's ～　在某人不在时，在某人离开时
　in the ～ of　在缺少…时
　in the event of sb's ～　在某人不在时
　leave of ～　请假
　on leave of ～　休假
　ask for leave of ～　请假
　～ from　缺席
　～ from duty　缺勤
　～ from home　离家
　～ from school　缺课
　～ from work　缺勤
　～ of　缺乏…; …不存在
　～ of adequate evidence　缺乏足够的证据
　～ of business　无生意
　～ of content　没有内容
　～ of definite information　没有确切消息
　～ of detail　不详尽
　～ of evidence　缺乏证据
　～ of honest intention　缺乏诚意
　～ of mind　心不在焉
　～ of order　无秩序
　～ of reason　缺乏理智
　～ of self-respect　不自重
　～ of stock　没有存货
　～ of three months　离开三个月
　～ of twenty minutes　离开二十分钟
　～ of vulgarity　脱俗
　～ without leave　擅自缺席

　Absence increased as a result of the spread of the disease.　由于疾病的蔓延，缺席人数增加了。
　Absence diminished as the new regulations are enforced.　由于执行了新规章，缺席情况减少了。
　Absence and distance make the overseas Chinese heart increasingly fond of their homeland.　华侨离乡背井，远居海外，因此他们在感情上越来越向往故乡。
　His frequent and prolonged absences were making his wife suspicious.　他频繁且长时间的不在家引起了妻子的怀疑。
　Her husband's absence increased the weight on her shoulders.　丈夫不在，加重了她肩上的担子。
　He didn't notice your absence.　他没有发现你缺席。
　He made up a story to explain his absence.　他编造谎言为他的缺席开脱。
　Nobody could explain his absence.　没有人能解释他缺席的原因。
　I was much disappointed at his absence.　他不在，我很失望。
　His illness accounts for his absence.　他因为生病，所以才缺席。
　He went to the dean to ask for a two-day leave of absence.　他找系主任想请两天假。
　He has got leave of absence for a week.　他已请准一周的假。
　It is not John's intention to take advantage of her absence.　约翰不想趁她不在时搞什么名堂。
　We are concerned about your child's frequent absences.　你的孩子频繁缺课使我们很担心。
　After a long absence, he has returned to doing TV work.　他长期没有露面，现在又回来做电视工作了。
　You were conspicuous by your absence yesterday.　你昨天因缺席而引人注意。
　Behave yourself during my absence.　我不在时要规矩点。
　Please act for me during my absence.　我不在时，请充当我的全权代表。
　They remained in their seats during my absence.　我离席时他们仍呆在自己的座位上。
　Please look after my office during my absence at home.　我没上班呆在家中时，请照料一下我的办公室。
　Caroline will be in charge of the office during my absence.　我不在的时候，办公室由卡罗琳负责。
　A new manager was appointed during your absence.　你不在的时候任命了一位新经理。
　A stranger brought you this letter during your absence.　你不在时，一个陌生人给你捎来了这封信。
　We did not receive any news during his long absence.　我们在他长期离开的时候没有得到一点消息。
　She returned from a day's absence.　她离开一天后回来了。
　A good many of the degrees were conferred in absence.　很多学位都是缺席授予的。
　I am on leave of absence.　我正在休假。
　Many families today were conscious of absences.　如今许多家庭都觉得少了人。
　The apparent cause of his absence was a bad cold.　他缺席的原因表面上看来是重感冒。
　He explained his silence by his absence at the battlefront.　他说，他之所以那时没有表态是因为他不在场，到前线去了。
　It happened during his absence for business in London.　这件事是他去伦敦出差期间发生的。
　Ade's constant absences from work made his boss very angry.　艾德经常旷工使他的老板很生气。
　His long illness and consequent absence from school delayed his progress of study.　他长时间生病以及随后的缺课耽搁了他的学业。
　His absences from work caused trouble.　他多次缺勤引起了麻烦。
　His several absences from class worried his teacher.　他几次缺课使他的老师很担心。
　They discovered that absence from each other left a painful void.　他们发觉彼此不能相见使人感到惆怅。
　There were 140 absences from school today.　今天学校有140人缺勤。
　Only then had I found his absence from London.　只是那时我才发现他不在伦敦。
　He's noted for his frequent absences from work.　他经常旷工是出了名的。
　Absence of mind may have bad results.　心不在焉可能会产生恶果。
　Absence of sunlight caused the plants to die.　阳光不足导致植物枯死。
　The absence of sunlight made it difficult to take good pictures.　没有日光很难把照片拍好。
　The absence of electricity made matters worse.　停电使事情变得更糟了。
　The teacher marked the absence of the students.　老师记录了学生的缺席情况。
　He noticed the absence of illustrations in that dictionary.　他发现那本词典里没有插图。
　He shows an absence of initiative.　他表现得不主动。
　She took a year's leave of absence from her job.　她休了一年假。
　He returns to the England team after a long absence from international football.　他在离开国际足坛很长一段时间之后重返英格兰队。
　He was desperately eager to be back after more than a week's absence from school.　他离校一个多星期以后，回校之心甚切。
　You have a lame excuse for your absence from classes yesterday.　你昨天缺课的理由是站不住脚的。
　He could not account for his absence from classes.　他说不出缺课的原因。
　She has had repeated absences from work this year.　她今年屡次旷工。
　We noticed his frequent absence from the job.　我们注意到，他常常旷工。
　Owing to his absences from work, they will deduct his bonus from his pay.　因为多次旷工，他们将从工资中扣除他的资金。
　He returned home after an absence of two years.　离别两年之后，他又回到了家里。
　She seemed pale from the absence of all cosmetics.　因为没抹一点脂粉，她看上去面色苍白。
　She told the story with a complete absence of any humor.　她毫无幽默感地讲了这个故事。
　The police are worried about the absence of proof in case of any other explanation.　警方担心案子缺乏证据。
　Absolute liberty is absence of restraint.　绝对的自由就是无约束。
　A major problem is the absence of water.　主要的问题是缺水。
　Darkness is the absence of light.　黑暗就是没有光亮。

 ♣ in sb's absence
　当某人不在时　while sb is not there
　They made the decision in my absence.　我不在的时候，他们做了决定。
　He acted as Chairman in my absence.　在我离开期间，他代行主席职务。
　Has your business been attended to by her in your absence?　你不在的时候，事务一直由她处理吗?
　Don't speak ill of a person in his absence.　不要在背后说人坏话。
　Speak no ill of him in his absence.　不要背地里讲他的坏话。
　Mark will be in charge in Steve's absence.　史蒂夫不在期间将由马克负责。
　A gentleman called in your absence, sir.　先生，你不在时，有位男士来访。
　In your parents' absence I am responsible for your welfare.　你父母不在的时候，由我照顾你。
 ♣ in the absence of
　缺乏，不存在　the fact of sb/sth not existing or not being available; a lack of sth
　In the absence of definite evidence the prisoner was set free.　因缺乏确凿证据，囚犯被释放了。
　In the absence of exact data, these discussions are bootless.　由于缺乏确切的资料，这些讨论是徒劳的。
　In the absence of any further evidence the police were unable to solve the murder.　由于缺乏进一步的证据，警方无法侦破那起谋杀案。
　The case was dismissed in the absence of any definite proof.　此案因缺乏确凿证据而不予受理。
　In the absence of any other explanation, we decided the wind had blown the door open.　因为没有别的解释，所以我们断定门是被风吹开的。
　In the absence of any contrary agreement, the firm accepts full liability.　因为不存在任何相反的协议，该公司承担全部责任。
　The owner refused to accept his money in the absence of identification.　由于不能作出鉴定，物主拒绝领取款项。
　In the absence of anybody more experienced, I took command.　由于找不到其他更有经验的人，只好由我来指挥。
　In the absence of the manager, Mr. Green is in charge.　经理不在时，一切由格林先生负责。
　In the absence of any more suitable candidates, we decided to offer the job to Mr. Conway.　由于缺乏更适合的人选，我们决定让康韦先生来做这项工作。

 ♣ absence, lack, shortage, want
　这组词都有“缺乏”的意思。其区别是：
1. 从内容上说：absence指在某一特定的场合应具备或想要的某一事物或事实；lack指应具备或需要的东西；shortage指按规定应具备或需要的数量；want则指缺少必不可少的东西，尤指为一整体的完美所必须具备的东西。
2. 从程度上说：absence指根本就不存在；lack指完全没有或不够充足；shortage指部分短缺或开始减少；want则指缺少。
3. 从用法上说：absence, lack和want都是不可数名词，间或可加不定冠词；而shortage可用作不可数名词，也可用作可数名词。
 ♣ 下面各组中的短语意思不同：

　［同义词］ nonappearance, not being present, defect, deficiency, lack, nonexistence, privation, scarcity, shortage, unavailability, want
　［反义词］ appearance, attendance, presence, adequacy, existence, sufficiency, surfeit
　［词源］中古英语<拉丁语absentia（缺席）