/ɒ'sterətɪ, also ɔ:'sterətɪ; ɔ`stɛrətɪ/
n
1 [U] quality of being austere 简朴; 紧缩
*the austerity of the Government's economic measures 政府经济措施方面的紧缩
* War was followed by many years of austerity. 战争结束後还要过多年的紧日子.
2 [C usu pl 通常作复数] condition, activity or practice that is part of an austere way of life 节衣缩食; 艰苦朴素
*Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺.

npluralausterities
[C usually plural, U]
bad economic conditions in which people do not have much money to spend
　a time of great austerity after the war
　the austerities of post-communist Eastern Europe
[U]
when a government has a deliberate policy of trying to reduce the amount of money it spends
austerity programme/plan/package
　a tough new austerity programme
　IMF-backed austerity measures (=reductions in government spending)
[U]
the quality of being austere
　a life of austerity