Short
volume
British pronunciation/ʃˈɔːt/
American pronunciation/ˈʃɔɹt/

Definition & Meaning of "short"

01

having a below-average distance between two points

short definition and meaning
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She wore a shirt with short sleeves to stay cool in the summer heat.
He preferred to wear short pants while exercising to allow for greater freedom of movement.
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I had a short chat with my neighbor this morning.
She gave me a short introduction to the project.
03

(of a person) having a height that is less than what is thought to be the average height

short definition and meaning
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At just five feet tall, she was considered short compared to her classmates.
The short man had to stand on his tiptoes to reach the top shelf at the grocery store.
04

lacking a sufficient amount of something in general

short definition and meaning
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The report was short on facts and figures.
We ’re running short on time to complete the project.
05

lacking an exact amount or number needed to meet a specific requirement or total

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We are two apples short for the recipe.
The team is three players short for the match.
06

(of pastry) easily broken apart due to a high amount of fat

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The pie crust was wonderfully short, crumbling at the touch of a fork.
Her shortbread cookies were perfectly short, melting in the mouth with each bite.
07

(of decision-making and planning) focusing only on immediate outcomes without considering long-term effects

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His short decision-making often led to long-term problems.
The company ’s short strategy ignored future market trends.
08

(of syllables and vowels) having a brief duration, specifically when referring to speech sounds or syllables

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The linguist emphasized the importance of recognizing short syllables in phonetics.
In the word “ cat, ” the vowel sound is short.
09

selling a financial instrument that one does not own, hoping to buy it back at a lower price

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Investors who were short on oil futures profited when prices plummeted.
Being short on the company ’s shares, she hoped to buy them back at a lower price.
Short
01

a strong alcoholic drink served in a small amount

short definition and meaning

What is a "short"?

A short is a type of alcoholic drink made from a spirit, a mixer, and a garnish. It is usually served in a short glass, such as a rocks glass or a highball glass. A short typically consists of a spirit, such as vodka, gin, rum, or whiskey, a mixer, such as soda water, tonic water, or juice, and a garnish, such as a lime wedge or an orange slice. A short is usually served chilled or over ice, and is popular in many countries around the world. It can also be used to make a variety of cocktails, such as the Moscow Mule, the Gin and Tonic, and the Whiskey Sour.

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After a long day at work, he ordered a short of whiskey to unwind.
She raised her short of tequila in a toast to celebrate their success.
02

the spot on a baseball field where the shortstop stands, usually between second and third base

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The player at short made an incredible diving catch.
During the game, the ball was hit directly to short.
2.1

the role or position of the player who is placed between second and third base on a baseball field

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The short was quick to react and threw the runner out at first base.
Our team ’s short has the best fielding percentage in the league.
03

an accident caused by two wires touching by mistake, making electricity flow the wrong way

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The short in the circuit blew a fuse.
A short in the wiring caused a small fire.
04

a movie with a short duration, sometimes shown before the feature movie in a movie theater

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The film festival featured several shorts from emerging directors around the world.
After the main feature, they screened a delightful animated short about a lost puppy.
short
01

in a sudden and unexpected manner, often catching others by surprise

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He stopped short in a panic when he heard the loud crash.
She answered the question short and bluntly, startling everyone in the room.
02

in a manner that results in a clean, straight cut across something

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The knife sliced the apple short, dividing it neatly into two halves.
He chopped the carrot short, creating perfectly even pieces for the stew.
03

used to describe selling something without possessing it at the time of sale

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The investor decided to sell the stock short, anticipating a decline in its value.
Traders often go short on commodities to hedge against price drops.
04

used to describe speaking or acting in a brief and blunt way that lacks politeness or consideration for others

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She replied short when asked about her plans for the weekend, not wanting to engage in small talk.
He dismissed the proposal short, without giving any reasons for his decision.
05

in an unexpected or unprepared manner, often leading to a sudden challenge

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Despite studying all night, she fell short in the final exam.
They had high hopes for the project, but it came up short of their expectations.
06

in a manner that abruptly interrupts or stops something

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The ringing phone brought the meeting short, leaving many topics undiscussed.
The power outage cut the show short, disappointing the audience.
to short
01

to cause a short circuit in an electrical device, leading to malfunction

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The technician accidentally shorted the circuit while repairing the wiring.
Water leakage shorted the electrical panel, causing a power outage.
02

to give someone less money than they are owed, often intentionally

Transitive
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She realized the vendor had shorted her after counting her change.
He felt frustrated when the clerk shorted him at the register.
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