adjective
    
    shorter; -est
    
    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
    
    
    
    
    
    lasting or continuing for a small amount of time :brief
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    b always used before a noun :seeming to pass quickly
    
    
    
    
    
    having few pages, items, etc.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    of clothing :covering only part of the arms or legs
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    existing in less than the usual or needed amount
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    b not used before a noun :having less than what is needed :not having enough of something
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    less than - used in the phrase nothing short of to give emphasis to a statement or description
    
    
    
    not reaching far enough
    
    
    
    
    
    made smaller by having part removed
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    not used before a noun :talking to someone in a very brief and unfriendly way :rudely brief
    
    
    
    linguistics of a vowel - used to identify certain vowel sounds in English
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    a short fuse
    
    
    
    draw the short straw
    
    
    
    fall short
    
    
    
    in short order
    
    quickly and without delay
    
    
    
    
    
    make short work of
    
    
    
    short and sweet
    
    pleasantly brief :not lasting a long time or requiring a lot of time
    
    
    
    
    
    short of breath
    
    If you are short of breath, it is difficult for you to breathe.
    
    
    
    
    
    the short end of the stick
    
    
    
    adverb
    
    shorter; -est
    
    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
    
    
    
    in a way that makes something short
    
    
    
    
    
    caught short
    
    
    
    cut short
    
    to end (something) earlier than expected
    
    
    
    
    
    fall short
    
    
    
    sell (someone or something) short
    
    
    
    short of
    
    except for (something) :other than (something)
    
    
    
    
    
    taken/caught short
    
    Brit informal :suddenly needing to use a toilet when there is no toilet available
    
    noun
    
    plural shorts
    
    shorts [plural]
    
    pants that end at or above the knees
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    see color picture - see also bermuda shorts
    
    boxer shorts
    
    [count] :a short movie
    
    
    
    [count] :short circuit
    
    [noncount] baseball informal :shortstop
    
    
    
    [count] Brit :a small amount of liquor that you drink quickly :shot
    
    
    
    for short
    
    in a shorter form :as an abbreviation
    
    
    
    in short
    
    in a few words - used to indicate that you are saying something in as few words as possible
    
    
    
    
    
    the long and (the) short of it
    
    
    
    verb
    
    shorts; shorted; shorting
    
    [+ obj] :to cause (something) to have a short circuit :short-circuit
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to stop working because of a short circuit :short-circuit