1short 
/ˈʃoɚt/ adjective
short·er; short·est /ˈʃoɚt/ adjective 1 a : extending a small distance from one end to the other end : having little length : not long
▪ Her hair is short. = She has short hair. ▪ It's just a short distance from here. = It's just a short distance away. ▪ the shortest rope ▪ One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other. ▪ The coat is short on him. = The coat is too short for him. [=the coat should be longer in order to fit him correctly]
b : not great in distance
▪ a short walk/drive/trip ▪ This way is shorter.
c : having little height : not tall
▪ He is short for his age. ▪ a short girl 2 a : lasting or continuing for a small amount of time : brief
▪ a short delay/vacation/speech ▪ the shortest day of the year ▪ Life's too short to worry about the past. ▪ The movie/meeting was very short. ▪ You have done a lot in a short space/period of time. ▪ a short burst of speed ▪ I've only lived here for a short time/while. ▪ It's just a short walk from here. [=you can walk there from here in a few minutes] ▪ She has a very short memory. [=she forgets about events, conversations, etc., soon after they happen]
b always used before a noun : seeming to pass quickly
▪ She has made great progress in a few short years. ▪ He visited for two short weeks. 3 : having few pages, items, etc.
▪ a short book/poem ▪ I have a list of things I need to do before we go, but it's pretty short. ▪ short sentences 4 of clothing : covering only part of the arms or legs
▪ boys in short pants ▪ a shirt with short sleeves [=sleeves that end at or above the elbows] ▪ a short skirt [=a skirt that ends above the knees and especially several inches above the knees] 5 a : existing in less than the usual or needed amount
▪ We should hurry. Time is short. [=we don't have much time] ▪ Money has been short lately. [=I haven't had enough money lately] ▪ Gasoline is in short supply. [=little gasoline is available] ▪ (US) We can be ready on short notice. = (Brit) We can be ready at short notice. [=very quickly] ▪ (US) Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. = (Brit) Thank you for meeting with me at such short notice. [=even though you did not know that I wanted to meet with you until a short time ago]
b not used before a noun : having less than what is needed : not having enough of something
▪ I can't pay the bill. I'm a little short (of money). [=I don't have enough money] ▪ The team was short (by) two players. = The team was two players short. — often + on ▪ short on time/food/money ▪ She's a little short on patience today. [=she is feeling somewhat impatient] ▪ He's not short on self-confidence. [=he has plenty of self-confidence] ▪ He was long on criticism but short on useful advice. [=he was very critical but did not give any useful advice]
c : less than — used in the phrase nothing short of to give emphasis to a statement or description ▪ His recovery is nothing short of a miracle. = His recovery is nothing short of miraculous. [=his recovery is a miracle; his recovery is miraculous]
d : not reaching far enough
▪ The throw to first base was short. ▪ a short throw 6 : made smaller by having part removed
▪ a short tax form — often + for ▪ “Doc” is short for “doctor.” ▪ “Ben” is short for “Benjamin.” ▪ “www” is short for “World Wide Web.” 7 not used before a noun : talking to someone in a very brief and unfriendly way : rudely brief
▪ I'm sorry I was short [=abrupt, curt] with you. 8 linguistics, of a vowel — used to identify certain vowel sounds in English ▪ long and short vowels ▪ the short “a” in “bad” ▪ the short “e” in “bet” ▪ the short “i” in “sit” ▪ the short “o” in “hot” ▪ the short “u” in “but” — compare 1long 6
▪ Her hair is short. = She has short hair. ▪ It's just a short distance from here. = It's just a short distance away. ▪ the shortest rope ▪ One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other. ▪ The coat is short on him. = The coat is too short for him. [=the coat should be longer in order to fit him correctly]
b : not great in distance
▪ a short walk/drive/trip ▪ This way is shorter.
c : having little height : not tall
▪ He is short for his age. ▪ a short girl
▪ a short delay/vacation/speech ▪ the shortest day of the year ▪ Life's too short to worry about the past. ▪ The movie/meeting was very short. ▪ You have done a lot in a short space/period of time. ▪ a short burst of speed ▪ I've only lived here for a short time/while. ▪ It's just a short walk from here. [=you can walk there from here in a few minutes] ▪ She has a very short memory. [=she forgets about events, conversations, etc., soon after they happen]
b always used before a noun : seeming to pass quickly
▪ She has made great progress in a few short years. ▪ He visited for two short weeks.
▪ a short book/poem ▪ I have a list of things I need to do before we go, but it's pretty short. ▪ short sentences
▪ boys in short pants ▪ a shirt with short sleeves [=sleeves that end at or above the elbows] ▪ a short skirt [=a skirt that ends above the knees and especially several inches above the knees]
▪ We should hurry. Time is short. [=we don't have much time] ▪ Money has been short lately. [=I haven't had enough money lately] ▪ Gasoline is in short supply. [=little gasoline is available] ▪ (US) We can be ready on short notice. = (Brit) We can be ready at short notice. [=very quickly] ▪ (US) Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. = (Brit) Thank you for meeting with me at such short notice. [=even though you did not know that I wanted to meet with you until a short time ago]
b not used before a noun : having less than what is needed : not having enough of something
▪ I can't pay the bill. I'm a little short (of money). [=I don't have enough money] ▪ The team was short (by) two players. = The team was two players short. — often + on ▪ short on time/food/money ▪ She's a little short on patience today. [=she is feeling somewhat impatient] ▪ He's not short on self-confidence. [=he has plenty of self-confidence] ▪ He was long on criticism but short on useful advice. [=he was very critical but did not give any useful advice]
c : less than — used in the phrase nothing short of to give emphasis to a statement or description ▪ His recovery is nothing short of a miracle. = His recovery is nothing short of miraculous. [=his recovery is a miracle; his recovery is miraculous]
d : not reaching far enough
▪ The throw to first base was short. ▪ a short throw
▪ a short tax form — often + for ▪ “Doc” is short for “doctor.” ▪ “Ben” is short for “Benjamin.” ▪ “www” is short for “World Wide Web.”
▪ I'm sorry I was short [=abrupt, curt] with you.
a short fuse — see 2fuse
draw the short straw — see 1draw
fall short — see 1fall
in short order
: quickly and without delay
▪ In short order the group set up camp. ▪ The papers were organized in short order.
▪ In short order the group set up camp. ▪ The papers were organized in short order.
make short work of — see 2work
short and sweet
: pleasantly brief : not lasting a long time or requiring a lot of time
▪ That's the way we like the meetings—short and sweet. ▪ I've got a few announcements, but I'll keep it short and sweet. [=I will talk for only a few minutes]
▪ That's the way we like the meetings—short and sweet. ▪ I've got a few announcements, but I'll keep it short and sweet. [=I will talk for only a few minutes]
short of breath
◊If you are short of breath, it is difficult for you to breathe.
▪ He is overweight and gets short of breath [=out of breath] just walking to his car. ▪ She was short of breath and unable to talk after her run.
▪ He is overweight and gets short of breath [=out of breath] just walking to his car. ▪ She was short of breath and unable to talk after her run.
the short end of the stick — see 1stick
— short·ness /ˈʃoɚtnəs/ noun [noncount]
▪ I was surprised by the shortness of the meeting. ▪ One symptom is shortness of breath.
/ˈʃoɚtnəs/ noun [noncount] ▪ I was surprised by the shortness of the meeting. ▪ One symptom is shortness of breath.
