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
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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
SHORTISH 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
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