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short

short

 
 
pronunciation:
short
parts of speech:
adjective, adverb, noun, transitive verb
phrases:
for short, short of
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
inflections: shorter, shortest
definition 1: of little length; not long.
The belt is too short to go around my waist.
 
antonyms:
lengthy, long
similar words:
brief, curt, diminutive, little, minute, slight, small, teeny, tiny, wee
definition 2: of little height; not tall.
He was a short boy in elementary school, but he became quite tall in middle school.
antonyms:
lofty, tall
similar words:
bantam, diminutive, dwarfish, elfin, lilliputian, little, low, petite, small, squat, stubby, truncated
definition 3: of little duration; brief.
The family went on a short vacation.
synonyms:
brief, transitory
antonyms:
lengthy, long, long-drawn-out
similar words:
ephemeral, fleeting, little, momentary, quick, short-lived, temporary, transient
definition 4: lacking in amount; insufficient.
We were two dollars short of what we needed to buy the tickets.
synonyms:
deficient, insufficient, shy
antonyms:
plentiful
similar words:
inadequate, lacking, low, meager, scant, scanty, scarce, sparse
definition 5: rude; curt; abrupt.
Don't be short with me.
synonyms:
abrupt, brusque, curt, rude
antonyms:
courteous
similar words:
cross, gruff, impatient, impolite, irritable, sharp, short-tempered, snappish, testy
definition 6: not up to a standard.
synonyms:
inadequate, insufficient, substandard
similar words:
defective, deficient, lacking, low, poor, wanting
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
phrase: short of
 
part of speech: adverb
inflections: shorter, shortest
definition 1: suddenly; abruptly.
The car stopped short when a deer jumped into the road right in front of it.
synonyms:
abruptly, suddenly
similar words:
directly, forthwith, immediately, instantly, point-blank, posthaste, quickly
definition 2: at a point or place before the desired goal.
The ball fell short.
similar words:
before, early, precipitately
definition 3: not up to a standard.
His work fell short.
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: something that is short.
It was a great short that should have been made into a full-length movie.
definition 2: a malfunction in an electrical circuit, usu. resulting in a failure; short circuit.
A short in the wire caused the lights to go out.
synonyms:
short circuit
definition 3: the main point; gist (usu. fol. by "of").
Well, now you know the long and short of it.
synonyms:
essence, gist, substance
definition 4: (pl.) trousers that stop above or close to the knee.
I only wear shorts in the summer.
definition 5: (pl.) men's underpants.
They were shocked that he would come to the door wearing only his shorts and an undershirt.
synonyms:
briefs, drawers, underpants
phrase: for short
 
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: shorts, shorting, shorted
definition 1: to cause a short circuit in.
synonyms:
short-circuit
definition 2: to give less than what is expected or needed.
When I counted the money, I saw that shorted me twenty dollars on their payment.
synonyms:
shortchange
similar words:
cheat, defraud
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: shortness (n.)
Word Builder: short +
  • shortly:
    in a short time; soon.
  • shorten:
    to make short or shorter.
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  body, clothing, electricity, grass, hair, measurement