Dry period (7)
![Ross](/clue/static/ross-mug.min.png)
I believe the answer is:
drought
'dry period' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for drought that I've seen before include "Period of low rainfall" , "Period of abnormal dryness" , "Long water shortage" , "Severe water shortage" , "dry condition" .)