cut short

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cut /kʌt/   v., cut, cut•ting, adj., n. 
v. 

1. to penetrate with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument or object: [~ + object]
   I cut my face while shaving yesterday.
   [no object]
   The axe won't cut anymore.
2. [~ + object] to divide with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument;
   sever:
   I cut the birthday cake.
3. to detach or remove with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument;
   slice off: [~ + object]
   to cut a slice of bread.
   [~ + out + object]
   Cut out a short article from the paper.
   [~ + object + out]
   Cut a short article out and hand it in.
   [~ + object + out + of + object]
   Cut a short article out of the newspaper.
   [~ + off + object]
   The queen yelled, "Cut off her head!''
   [~ + object + off]
   Cut her head off!
See cut off below.
4. to become detached or removed by or as if by a sharp-edged instrument:
   [no object] The meat is so tender it cuts easily with a fork.
5. to set (someone or something) free or loose by severing rope, chains, etc.:
   [~ + object] I cut the prisoner free with my knife.
6. to saw down;
   fell: [~ + object]
   to cut timber.
   [~ + down + object]
   to cut down a tree.
   [~ + object + down]
   to cut a tree down.
See cut down below.
7. to trim by clipping, shearing, or pruning:
   [~ + object] to cut hair.
8. [~ + object] to mow;
   reap;
   harvest:
   to cut grain.
9. to reduce the length of;
   shorten:
   [~ + object] to cut a speech short.
10. to lower, reduce, or curtail:
    [~ + object] to cut prices.
11. to dissolve:
    [~ + object] a detergent that cuts grease.
12. to intersect;
    cross:
    [~ + object] The top lines are cut at 90-degree angles by other lines.
13. to move or cross, esp. in the most direct way:
    [~ + across/through + object] to cut across an empty lot.
14. Informal Terms [~ + object] Informal. to cease;
    stop;
    discontinue:
    Cut the kidding.
15. Aeronautics to halt the running of, such as an engine;
    stop:
    [~ + object] When I give you the signal, cut the engine.
See cut off below.
16. Dentistry to grow (a tooth) through the gum:
    [~ + object] cutting her baby teeth.
17. Ceramics [~ + object]
    • to produce a pattern in (glass) by grinding and polishing:
      The craftsmen cut some fine crystal.
    • to make or fashion by cutting, such as a garment.
18. Education [~ + object] to fail to attend;
    make oneself absent from:
    began to cut classes and skip homework.
19. to wound the feelings (of):
    [~ + object] : The way you treated me cut me badly.
    [no object]
    His criticisms cut deep.
20. Games to divide (a pack of cards) at random parts, as by removing cards from the top: [~ + object]
    He cut the deck and fanned the cards on the table.
    [no object]
    Whose turn is it to cut?
21. Show Business [~ + object]
    • to record a selection on (magnetic tape):
      cut a new record last week.
    • to make a recording of (a song, etc.):
      cut two songs in one session.
22. [no object] to make a sudden or sharp change in direction;
    swerve:
    The runner cut to the left and moved upfield quickly.
23. cut across, [~ + across + object] to go beyond considerations of;
    transcend:
    The new tax program cuts across party lines.
24. cut back,
    • to shorten (something growing) by cutting off the end: [~ + back + object]
      You'll need to cut back the roses.
      [~ + object + back]
      Cut the roses back.
    • to reduce or discontinue: [~ + back + object]
      to cut back steel production.
      [~ + object + back]
      to cut steel production back to lower levels.
      [~ + back + on + object]
      We'll have to cut back on those expensive meals.
25. cut down,
    • Also, cut down on. [~ (+ down) + on + object] to lessen or curtail;
      decrease: to cut down on snacks.
    • to destroy, kill, or disable: [~ + down + object]
      The hurricane cut down everything in its path.
      [~ + object + down]
      The machine guns cut the enemy down.
26. cut in,
    • [no object] to move or thrust a vehicle, etc., suddenly between others:
      His car cut in suddenly in front of mine.
    • [no object] to interpose;
      interrupt: She would always cut in with some remark.
    • Informal Terms [no object] to interrupt a dancing couple in order to dance with one of them:
      May I cut in, please?
    • [~ + object + in] to include, such as in a business deal or card game:
      We'll cut you in for 50% of the profits.
27. cut off,
    • to intercept: [~ + off + object]
      His brigade cut off the enemy.
      [~ + object + off]
      The cavalry cut them off.
    • to interrupt: [~ + off + object]
      The shouting cut off the speaker before she could finish.
      [~ + object + off]
      They cut her off before she was finished.
    • to disconnect a phone connection with (someone) suddenly: [~ + off + object]
      I cut off that salesman and returned to dinner.
      [~ + object + off]
      I cut the salesman off.
    • to stop suddenly;
      discontinue: [~ + off + object]
      They cut off funding for the project.
      [~ + object + off]
      They cut funding off for next year.
    • to halt the operation of;
      turn off: [~ + off + object]
      They cut off the power.
      [~ + object + off]
      They cut the power off.
    • [~ + object + off] to take away the right (of someone) to inherit;
      disinherit:
      His family cut him off without a cent.
    • [~ + object] to separate;
      sever. See cut above, (def. 3).
28. cut out,
    • to omit, delete, or remove;
      excise: [~ + out + object]
      Cut out a few extra paragraphs here.
      [~ + object + out]
      Cut a few paragraphs out.
    • to form by or as if by cutting: [~ + out + object]
      She cut out heart-shaped pieces from the red paper.
      [~ + object + out]
      She cut a few pages out.
    • Informal Terms to discontinue;
      stop: [~ + out + object verb-ing]
      promised to cut out smoking.
      [~ + object + out]
      Now cut that out; you're disturbing me.
    • [~ + object* usually: be + ~ + out + for + object] to plan;
      arrange: Your work is cut out for you.
    • Slang Terms [no object] Slang. to leave suddenly:
      Let's cut out and go home early.
    • [no object] (of an engine, etc.) to stop running:
      Suddenly the engine of the plane just cut out.
29. cut up,
    • to cut into pieces or sections: [~ + up + object]
      He cut up a few pieces of cheese.
      [~ + object + up]
      He cut the cake up and passed it around.
    • to use a sharp instrument, such as a knife, to injure with wounds: [~ + up + object]
      Her attacker began to cut up her face.
      [~ + object + up]
      began to cut her face up.
    • Informal Terms [no object] Informal. to play pranks;
      misbehave:
      As a kid he was always cutting up in class.

adj. 

30. separated or shaped by cutting:
    cut flowers; a cut diamond.
31. reduced by or as if by cutting:
    cut prices.

n. [countable]

32. the result of cutting, as an incision, passage, or channel:
    a deep cut in the wood.
33. the act of cutting, as with a knife or whip:
    a quick cut at the rope.
34. an amount or piece cut off:
    a cut of meat.
35. Informal Terms a share, esp. of earnings or profits:
    an agent's cut of 5% on the deal.
36. a reduction in price, salary, etc.:
    a cut of 25% on our best merchandise.
37. the manner or fashion in which anything is cut:
    the cut of a dress.
38. style;
    manner;
    kind:
    a man of his cut.
See a cut above below.
39. a passage or course straight across or through:
    a cut through the woods.
40. an act, speech, etc., that wounds the feelings of another:
    That insult was a deep cut.
41. Education an absence, as from a class at which attendance is required:
    You have four cuts already.
42. Show Business the change from one shot or scene of a film to another:
    a quick cut to the musician in his happier days.
43. Music and Dance an individual song, etc., on a record or tape:
    added that cut as an afterthought.

Idioms

44. Idioms a cut above, somewhat superior to:
    Your work was a cut above the rest.
45. Idioms cut a figure, to give a certain impression of oneself:
    That elderly statesman still manages to cut a distinguished figure.
46. Idioms cut both ways, to have or result in advantages as well as disadvantages:
    The deal cuts both ways; you might benefit greatly or suffer tremendous losses.
47. Idioms, cut it, [~ + object* usually: with negative words or phrases, or in questions] [Informal.] to perform effectively or successfully:
    He can't seem to cut it in the financial world.
48. Idioms cut it fine, to calculate precisely, without allowing for error:
    Our connecting train will leave at 3:35, but we won't get there until 3:31; isn't that cutting it just a bit fine?
49. Idioms cut one's teeth on, [~ + one's teeth + on + object] to do at an early stage or age:
    He cut his teeth on reporting, working for his town newspaper at the early age of eight.
50. Idioms cut out for, [~ + object* usually: with negative words and phrases, or in questions] fitted for;
    capable of:
    He's just not cut out for the military.
51. Idioms cut short, to end abruptly before completion;
    interrupt: [~ + object + short]
    cut the performance short and left early.
    [~ + short + object]
    They cut short the concert and everyone went home early.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

short /ʃɔrt/   adj., -er, -est, adv., n., v. 
adj. 

1. having little length or height:
   the shortest boy in class.
2. extending only a little way:
   a short path.
3. brief:
   a short time.
4. rudely brief;
   abrupt:
   surprised by his short reply.
5. low in amount or number:
   short rations.
6. not reaching a standard, level, etc.;
   deficient:
   The pound of apples that you bought was short by several ounces.
7. made with a large amount of shortening:
   short pastry.
8. not having enough;
   lacking:
   [often: ~]  + [on/in]  + [object] always short on money.
9. Phonetics
   • having the sound of the English vowels in bat, bet, bit, hot, but, and put, historically descended from vowels that were short in duration.

adv. 

10. abruptly or suddenly:
    to stop short.
11. briefly;
    curtly.
12. on the near side of a point:
    The arrow landed short.

n. [countable]

13. something short.
14. Business shorts, [plural]
    • Clothing trousers, knee-length or shorter.
    • Clothing underpants.
15. Electricity short circuit.

v. 

16. to form a short circuit (in): [ ~ + obj]:
    The frayed wire shorted the connection.
    [ no obj]:
    The car kept shorting.

Idioms

17. Idioms come or fall short, [no object]
    • to fail to reach a standard, level, etc.:
      The arrow fell short of the target.
    • to be lacking:
      We came up short in our bid for the painting.
18. Idioms cut short, [no object] to end abruptly;
    terminate.
19. Idioms for short, as a shorter way of saying or naming something:
    Barbara was called Barb for short.
20. Idioms in short:
    • in summary;
      stated or said briefly:
      In short, gentlemen, we know what we're going to do.

short•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cut  (kut), v., cut, cut•ting, adj., n. 
v.t. 

1. to penetrate with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument or object:
   He cut his finger.
2. to divide with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument;
   sever;
   carve:
   to cut a rope.
3. to detach with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument;
   separate from the main body;
   lop off:
   to cut a slice from a loaf of bread.
4. to hew or saw down;
   fell:
   to cut timber.
5. to trim by clipping, shearing, paring, or pruning:
   to cut hair.
6. to mow;
   reap;
   harvest:
   to cut grain.
7. to abridge or shorten;
   edit by omitting a part or parts:
   to cut a speech.
8. to lower, reduce, diminish, or curtail (sometimes fol. by down):
   to cut prices.
9. to dilute;
   make less thick:
   to cut wine.
10. to dissolve:
    That detergent cuts grease effectively.
11. to intersect;
    cross:
    One line cuts another at right angles.
12. Informal Terms to cease;
    discontinue (often fol. by out):
    Cut the kidding. Let's cut out the pretense.
13. Aeronautics to stop;
    halt the running of, as a liquid or an engine (often fol. by off):
    The pilot cut the engines and glided in for a landing. Cut off the hot water.
14. to dilute or adulterate (a drug) by mixing it with other substances.
15. Dentistry to grow (a tooth or teeth) through the gum:
    The baby is cutting his teeth.
16. Printing to type, write, or draw on (a stencil) for mimeographing.
17. to make or fashion by cutting, as a statue, jewel, or garment.
18. Ceramics [Glassmaking.] to produce a pattern (in glass) by grinding and polishing.
19. to refuse to recognize socially;
    shun ostentatiously:
    Her friends began to cut her as the season progressed.
20. to strike sharply, as with a whip.
21. to absent oneself from:
    allowed to cut three classes per semester.
22. Cinema, Show Business [Motion Pictures, Television.]
    • to stop (a scene or shot being filmed).
    • to edit (a film).
23. to wound the feelings of severely.
24. Education, Games [Cards.]
    • to divide (a pack of cards) at random into two or more parts, by removing cards from the top.
    • to take (a card) from a deck.
25. Show Business to record a selection on (a phonograph record or tape);
    make a recording of.
26. to castrate or geld.
27. Sport to hit (a ball) with either the hand or some instrument so as to change its course and often to cause it to spin.
28. to hollow out;
    excavate;
    dig:
    to cut a trench.
29. Sport [Cricket.] to strike and send off (a ball) in front of the batsman, and parallel to the wicket.
30. Slang Terms to be a nonplaying dealer, manager, or supervisor of (a card game, crap game, or other gambling game) in return for a percentage of the money bet or sometimes for a fee.

v.i. 

31. to penetrate or divide something, as with a sharp-edged instrument;
    make an incision:
    The scissors cut well.
32. to admit of being cut:
    Butter cuts easily.
33. to pass, go, or come, esp. in the most direct way (usually fol. by across, through, in, etc.):
    to cut across an empty lot.
34. Show Business [Motion Pictures, Television.]
    • to shift suddenly from one shot to another:
      Cut to the barroom interior.
    • to stop the action of a scene: used as a command by a director.
35. to make a sudden or sharp turn in direction;
    change direction suddenly;
    swerve:
    We cut to the left to avoid hitting the child.
36. to strike a person, animal, etc., sharply, as with a whip.
37. to wound the feelings severely:
    His criticism cut deep.
38. (of the teeth) to grow through the gums.
39. Games, Education [Cards.] to cut the cards.
40. Informal Terms to leave hastily:
    to cut for the hills.
41. (of a horse) to interfere.
42. Idioms cut a caper or figure, to perform a spirited, brief, outlandish dance step, esp. as a result of euphoria.
43. cut across, to precede or go beyond considerations of;
    transcend:
    The new tax program cuts across party lines.
44. Idioms cut a figure:
    • Idioms See cut a caper. 
    • Idioms to give a certain impression of oneself:
      He cut a distinguished figure in his tuxedo.
45. cut and run:
    • Naval Terms [Naut.] to cut the anchor cable and set sail, as in an emergency.
    • Naval Terms to leave as hurriedly as possible;
      flee.
46. Idioms cut back:
    • to shorten by cutting off the end.
    • to curtail or discontinue:
      Steel production has been cut back in recent months.
    • to return to an earlier episode or event, as in the plot of a novel.
    • Sport [Football.] to reverse direction suddenly by moving in the diagonally opposite course.
47. Idioms cut both ways, to have, produce, or result in advantages as well as disadvantages:
    This decision will inevitably cut both ways.
48. cut down:
    • Also, cut down on. to lessen;
      decrease:
      to cut down on between-meal snacks.
    • to strike and cause to fall:
      The first force to attempt an advance was swiftly cut down.
    • to destroy, kill, or disable:
      The hurricane cut down everything in its path.
    • to remodel, remake, or reduce in size, as a garment:
      She had her old coat cut down to fit her daughter.
49. Idioms cut or chop down to size, to reduce the stature or importance of:
    The novelist had a big ego until the critics cut him down to size.
50. cut in:
    • to move or thrust oneself, a vehicle, etc., abruptly between others:
      A speeding car cut in and nearly caused an accident.
    • to interpose;
      interrupt:
      to cut in with a remark.
    • Informal Terms to interrupt a dancing couple in order to dance with one of them.
    • to blend (shortening) into flour by means of a knife.
51. cut it, [Informal.]
    • to achieve or maintain a desired level of performance:
      The aging football player decided he couldn't cut it any longer and retired.
    • to be effective or successful;
      satisfy a need.
52. cut it out, [Informal.] to stop doing something:
    That hurts! Cut it out!
53. Idioms cut no ice. See ice (def. 10).
54. cut off:
    • to intercept.
    • to interrupt.
    • to stop suddenly;
      discontinue.
    • to halt the operation of;
      turn off.
    • to shut off or shut out.
    • to disinherit.
    • to sever;
      separate.
55. cut out:
    • to omit;
      delete;
      excise.
    • to oust and replace a rival;
      supplant.
    • to part an animal from a herd.
    • to plan;
      arrange:
      He has his work cut out for him.
    • to move out of one's lane of traffic.
    • Slang Terms Also, cut on out. to leave suddenly.
    • Informal Terms to refrain from;
      stop:
      to cut out smoking.
    • (of an engine, machine, etc.) to stop running.
56. cut up:
    • to cut into pieces or sections.
    • to lacerate;
      wound.
    • to distress mentally;
      injure.
    • Informal Terms to play pranks;
      misbehave:
      They got scolded for cutting up in church.

adj. 

57. that has been subjected to cutting;
    divided into pieces by cutting;
    detached by cutting:
    cut flowers.
58. fashioned by cutting;
    having the surface shaped or ornamented by grinding, polishing, or the like:
    cut diamonds.
59. reduced by or as if by cutting:
    cut whiskey; cut prices.
60. Botany incised;
    cleft.
61. Animal Husbandry castrated;
    gelded.
62. Slang Terms drunk.
63. Idioms cut out for, fitted for;
    capable of:
    He wasn't cut out for military service.

n. 

64. the act of cutting;
    a stroke or a blow, as with a knife, whip, etc.
65. the result of cutting, as an incision, wound, passage, or channel.
66. a piece cut off:
    a cut of a pie.
67. Informal Terms a share, esp. of earnings or profits:
    His agent's cut is 20 percent.
68. Clothing a haircut, often with a styling.
69. a reduction in price, salary, etc.
70. the manner or fashion in which anything is cut:
    the cut of a dress.
71. style;
    manner;
    kind:
    We need a man of his cut in this firm.
72. a passage or course straight across or through:
    a cut through the woods.
73. an excision or omission of a part.
74. a part or quantity of text deleted or omitted.
75. Building a quantity cut, esp. of lumber.
76. a refusal to recognize an acquaintance.
77. an act, speech, etc., that wounds the feelings.
78. an engraved plate or block of wood used for printing.
79. a printed picture or illustration.
80. Education an absence, as from a school class, at which attendance is required.
81. Food [Butchering.] part of an animal usually cut as one piece.
82. Games [Cards.] a cutting of the cards.
83. Sport
    • the act of cutting a ball.
    • the spin imparted.
84. [Fencing.] a blow with the edge of the blade instead of the tip.
85. one of several pieces of straw, paper, etc., used in drawing lots.
86. Cinema, Show Business [Motion Pictures, Television.]
    • Show Business the instantaneous or gradual transition from one shot or scene to another in an edited film.
    • an edited version of a film. Cf. rough cut, final cut.
    • an act or instance of editing a film.
87. Music and Dance an individual song, musical piece, or other similar material on a record or tape.
88. Mining, Energy any product of the fractional distillation of petroleum.
89. Idioms a cut above, somewhat superior to another (thing, person, etc.) in some respect:
    Her work is a cut above anyone else's.

• 1175–1225; Middle English cutten, kytten, kitten, Old English *cyttan; akin to Old Swedish kotta to cut, Old Norse kuti little knife

Synonyms

• 1. gash, slash, slit, lance.
• 2. cleave, sunder, bisect.
  Cut, chop, hack, hew refer to giving a sharp blow or stroke.
  Cut is a general word for this:
  to cut the grass.
  To chop is to cut by giving repeated blows with something sharp, as an ax. To chop and to hew are practically interchangeable, but hew suggests keeping to a definite purpose:
  to chop or hew down a tree; to hew out a clearing.
  To hack is to cut or chop roughly and unevenly:
  to hack off a limb.
• 7. abbreviate, curtail.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

short  (shôrt), adj., -er, -est, adv., n., v. 
adj. 

1. having little length;
   not long.
2. having little height;
   not tall:
   a short man.
3. extending or reaching only a little way:
   a short path.
4. brief in duration;
   not extensive in time:
   a short wait.
5. brief or concise, as writing.
6. rudely brief;
   abrupt;
   hurting:
   short behavior.
7. low in amount;
   scanty:
   short rations.
8. not reaching a point, mark, target, or the like;
   not long enough or far enough.
9. below the standard in extent, quantity, duration, etc.:
   short measure.
10. having a scanty or insufficient amount of (often fol. by in or on):
    He was short in experience.
11. being below a necessary or desired level;
    lacking:
    The office is short due to winter colds and flu.
12. Food [Cookery.]
    • (of pastry and the like) crisp and flaky;
      breaking or crumbling readily from being made with a large proportion of butter or other shortening.
    • (of dough) containing a relatively large amount of shortening.
13. Metallurgy (of metals) deficient in tenacity;
    friable;
    brittle.
14. Anatomy, Physical Anthropology (of the head or skull) of less than ordinary length from front to back.
15. Stock Exchange, Business
    • Business not possessing at the time of sale commodities or stocks that one sells.
    • Business noting or pertaining to a sale of commodities or stocks that the seller does not possess, depending for profit on a decline in prices.
16. Phonetics
    • lasting a relatively short time:
      "Bit'' has a shorter vowel-sound than "bid'' or "bead.''
    • belonging to a class of sounds considered as usually shorter in duration than another class, as the vowel of but as compared to that of bought, and in many languages serving as a distinctive feature of phonemes, as the a in German Bann in contrast with the ah in Bahn, or the t in Italian fato in contrast with the tt in fatto (opposed to long).
    • having the sound of the English vowels in bat, bet, bit, hot, but, and put, historically descended from vowels that were short in duration.
17. Poetry [Pros.]
    • Poetry (of a syllable in quantitative verse) lasting a relatively shorter time than a long syllable.
    • unstressed.
18. Wine (of an alcoholic drink) small:
    a short drink.
19. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] (of whiskey) undiluted;
    straight.
20. Ceramics (of clay) not plastic enough to be modeled.
21. Textiles [Ropemaking.] hard (def. 39).
22. short and sweet:
    • pleasantly brief.
    • pertinent:
      We're in a hurry, so make it short and sweet.
23. short for, being a shorter form of;
    abbreviated to:
    "Phone'' is short for "telephone.''
24. short of:
    • less than;
      inferior to.
    • inadequately supplied with (money, food, etc.).
    • without going to the length of;
      failing of;
      excluding:
      Short of murder, there is nothing he wouldn't have tried to get what he wanted.
25. make short work of. See work (def. 16).

adv. 

26. abruptly or suddenly:
    to stop short.
27. briefly;
    curtly.
28. on the near side of an intended or particular point:
    The arrow landed short.
29. Sport [Baseball.]
    • with the hands higher on the handle of the bat than usual:
      He held the bat short and flied out.
    • in a fielding position closer to home plate than usual.
30. come or fall short:
    • to fail to reach a particular standard.
    • to prove insufficient;
      be lacking:
      Her funds fell short, and she had to wire home for help.
31. cut short, to end abruptly;
    terminate:
    Her nap was cut short by a loud noise from outside.
32. run short, to be in insufficient supply:
    My patience is running short.
33. Business sell short:
    • Business [Stock Exchange.] to sell stocks or the like without having them in one's actual possession at the time of the sale.
    • to disparage or underestimate:
      Don't sell Tom short; he's really an excellent engineer.

n. 

34. something that is short.
35. that which is deficient or lacking.
36. the sum and substance of a matter;
    gist (usually prec. by the).
37. Business shorts:
    • Clothing trousers, knee-length or shorter.
    • Clothing short pants worn by men as an undergarment.
    • Clothing knee breeches, formerly worn by men.
    • [Finance.] short-term bonds.
    • [Mining.] crushed ore failing to pass through a given screen, thus being of a larger given size than a specific grade. Cf. fine (def. 29a).
    • remnants, discards, or refuse of various cutting and manufacturing processes.
38. Clothing a size of garment for men who are shorter than average:
    He wears a 42 short.
39. Clothing a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in such a size.
40. Military a shot that strikes or bursts short of the target.
41. Electricity See short circuit. 
42. Poetry, Linguistics [Pros.] a short sound or syllable.
43. Sport [Baseball.] shortstop (def. 1).
44. Show Business [Motion Pictures.] See short subject. 
45. Business [Finance.] See short seller. 
46. a deficiency or the amount of a deficiency.
47. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a small drink of straight whiskey;
    shot.
48. for short, by way of abbreviation:
    Her name is Patricia, and she's called Pat for short.
49. in short:
    • in summary.
    • in few words;
      in brief:
      In short, this has been rather a disappointing day.

v.t. 

50. to cause a short circuit in.
51. to cheat by giving less than is expected or deserved;
    shortchange.

v.i. 

52. to short-circuit.

• bef. 900; Middle English schort (adjective, adjectival), Old English sceort; cognate with Old High German scurz short, Old Norse skortr shortness, scarcity

short′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 4. Short, brief are opposed to long, and indicate slight extent or duration.
  Short may imply duration but is also applied to physical distance and certain purely spatial relations:
  a short journey.
  Brief refers esp. to duration of time:
  brief intervals.
• 5. terse, succinct, laconic, condensed.
• 6. curt, sharp, testy.
• 7. poor, deficient, inadequate, wanting, lacking.
• 12. crumbly.
• 14. brachycephalic.

Antonyms

• 3, 4. long.