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short
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- 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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definition 6: |
not up to a standard.
- synonyms:
- inadequate, insufficient, substandard
- similar words:
- defective, deficient, lacking, low, poor, wanting
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related words: |
crisp, scant, succinct, summary, terse |
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phrase: |
short of |
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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
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definition 2: |
at a point or place before the desired goal.
The ball fell short.- similar words:
- before, early, precipitately
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definition 3: |
not up to a standard.
His work fell short. |
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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
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definition 3: |
the main point; gist (usu. fol. by "of").
Well, now you know the long and short of it.- synonyms:
- essence, gist, substance
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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
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phrase: |
for short |
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part of speech: |
transitive verb |
inflections: |
shorts, shorting, shorted |
definition 1: |
to cause a short circuit in.
- synonyms:
- short-circuit
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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
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derivation: |
shortness (n.) |
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