First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1short
adjective \ˈshȯrt\
: extending a small distance from one end to the other end : having little length : not long
: not great in distance
: having little height : not tall
Full Definition of SHORT
1
a : having little length b : not tall or high : low
2
a : not extended in time : brief <a short vacation> b : not retentive <a short memory> c : expeditious, quick <made short work of the problem> d : seeming to pass quickly <made great progress in just a few short years>
3
a of a speech sound : having a relatively short duration b : being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel that was short in duration but is no longer so and that does not necessarily have duration as its chief distinguishing feature <short i in sin> c of a syllable in prosody (1) : of relatively brief duration (2) : unstressed
4
: limited in distance <a short trip>
5
a : not coming up to a measure or requirement : insufficient <in short supply> b : not reaching far enough <the throw to first was short> c : enduring privation d : insufficiently supplied <short of cash> <short on brains>
7
: choppy 2
8
: payable at an early date <a short loan>
9
a : containing or cooked with shortening; also : flaky <short pastry> b of metal : brittle under certain conditions
10
a : not lengthy or drawn out <a short speech> b : made briefer : abbreviated
11
a : not having goods or property that one has sold in anticipation of a fall in prices b : consisting of, relating to, or engaging in the sale of securities or commodities that the seller does not possess or has not contracted for at the time of the sale <short sale> <a short seller>
12
: near the end of a tour of duty
— short·ish \ˈshȯr-tish\ adjective
— short·ness \ˈshȯrt-nəs\ noun
— in short order
: with dispatch : quickly
See short defined for English-language learners
See short defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SHORT
Middle English, from Old English sceort; akin to Old High German scurz short, Old Norse skortr lack
2short
adverb
: to or at a point that is not as far as expected or desired : to a point not reaching what is needed for something
: in a sudden manner
: for or during a short time
Full Definition of SHORT
1
: in a curt manner
2
: for or during a brief time <short-lasting>
3
: at a disadvantage : unawares <caught short>
4
: in an abrupt manner : suddenly <the car stopped short>
5
: at some point or degree before a goal or limit aimed at or under consideration <the bombs fell short> <quit a month short of graduation>
6
: clean across <the axle was snapped short>
7
: by or as if by a short sale
See short defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SHORT
14th century
3short
noun
shorts : pants that end at or above the knees
: a short movie
: a small amount of liquor that you drink quickly
Full Definition of SHORT
1
: the sum and substance : upshot
2
a : a short syllable b : a short sound or signal
3
plural a : a by-product of wheat milling that includes the germ, fine bran, and some flour b : refuse, clippings, or trimmings discarded in various manufacturing processes
4
a : knee-length or less than knee-length trousers —usually used in plural b plural : short drawers c : a size in clothing for short men
5
a : one who operates on the short side of the market b plural : short-term bonds
6
plural : deficiencies
7
8
9
a : short subject b : a brief story or article (as in a newspaper)
— for short
: as an abbreviation <named Katherine or Kate for short>
— in short
: by way of summary : briefly
See short defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SHORT
circa 1586
4short
transitive verb
: to cause (something) to have a short circuit
: to stop working because of a short circuit
Full Definition of SHORT
1
2
: shortchange, cheat
3
: to sell (a security) short in expectation of a fall in prices
First Known Use of SHORT
1904
Related to SHORT
- Synonyms
- beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, fleece, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize
SHORT[1] Defined for Kids
1short
adjective \ˈshȯrt\
short·ershort·est
Definition of SHORT for Kids
1
: not long or tall <short hair> <a short boy> <short stories>
2
: not great in distance <a short trip>
3
: not lasting long : brief in time <a short delay> <a short memory>
4
: cut down to a brief length <“Doc” is short for “doctor.”>
5
: less than the usual or needed amount <Fruit was in short supply.> <We met on short notice.>
6
: having less than what is needed : not having enough <I'm short of money.> <The team was short two players.>
7
: not reaching far enough <The throw was short.>
8
: easily stirred up <a short temper>
9
: rudely brief <I didn't mean to be short with you.>
10
: of, relating to, or being one of the vowel sounds \ə, a, e, i, u̇\ and sometimes \ä\ and \ȯ\
— short·ness noun
Headscratcher for SHORT
What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Short!
2short
adverb
Definition of SHORT for Kids
1
: with suddenness <I stopped short.>
2
: to or at a point that is not as far as expected or desired <He threw the ball short.>
3short
noun
Definition of SHORT for Kids
1
shorts plural : pants that reach to or almost to the knees
2
shorts plural : short underpants
3
: something (as a movie) shorter than the usual or regular length
4
Learn More About SHORT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: short accountPrevious Word in the Dictionary: shorsAll Words Near: short
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up short? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).