Very lacking in atmosphere (4)

I believe the answer is:

dead

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'very' is the definition.
(dead can mean very or absolutely, eg 'dead wrong')

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dead that I've seen before include "Six feet under" , "Deceased; numb" , "dull" , "no longer with us" , "Gone to meet one's Maker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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