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short
/ʃɔːrt/
having little length or duration
The movie was too short for my taste.
The movie was not long enough.
general
having little length or duration
She has short hair.
Her hair is not long.
We took a short break.
We took a brief break.
Often used to describe physical length or time duration.
informal
not reaching a required standard or amount
The company is short of cash.
The company does not have enough money.
Commonly used in informal contexts to describe a lack of something.
Technology
technical
a short circuit in electronics
The short caused the device to malfunction.
The short circuit made the device stop working.
In electronics, a short refers to an unintended connection.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Short' is often used to describe physical length or time, but can also describe a lack of something.
Gold Rule
Adjective vs. Noun
As an adjective, 'short' describes length or duration; as a noun, it refers to a short circuit in electronics.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'short', from Old English 'sceort', of Germanic origin.
Usage Notes
Can be used as an adjective to describe physical length or time, or as a noun in technical contexts.
Word Breakdown
short
little length or duration
rootEnglish Dictionary