short
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++short1 /ʃɔːt $ ʃɔːrt/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative shorter, superlative shortest) 1 time 时间SHORT TIME happening or continuing for only a little time or for less time than usual 短（暂）的，短期的 OPP long a short meeting 一个短会 Morris gave a short laugh. 莫里斯笑了一声。 a short course on business English 商业英语短期课程 Winter is coming and the days are getting shorter. 冬天来临，白天变短了。 I’ve only been in Brisbane a short time. 我才来布里斯班不久。 For a short while (=a short time), the city functioned as the region’s capital. 这座城市曾经在很短的一段时间里是这个地区的首府。 I learned a lot during my short period as a junior reporter. 在当初级记者的这段短暂时间里，我学到了许多。 Germany achieved spectacular economic success in a relatively short period of time. 德国在相对较短的时间里取得了非凡的经济成就。 They met and married within a short space of time. 他们从相识到结婚时间很短。 I promise to keep the meeting short and sweet (=short in a way that is good, especially not talking for a long time). 我保证会议开得简短不拖拉。 For a few short weeks (=they seemed to pass very quickly), the sun shone and the fields turned gold. 短短的几个星期里，阳光照耀，田野变成了一片金黄。2 length/distance 长度/距离SHORT/NOT LONG measuring a small amount in length or distance 〔长度或距离〕短的 OPP long a short skirt 一条短裙 Anita had her hair cut short. 安妮塔把头发剪短了。 They went by the shortest route, across the fields. 他们抄近路从田野里穿过去。 Carol’s office was only a short distance away, and she decided that she would walk there. 卡罗尔的办公室并不远，她决定走着去。a short walk/flight/drive It’s a short drive to the airport. 开车去机场很近。 The hotel is only a short walk from the beach. 酒店离海滩只有几步之遥。3 not tall 不高的SHORT PERSON someone who is short is not as tall as most people 个子矮的 OPP tall a short plump woman 一个矮矮胖胖的女人 Chris was short and stocky, with broad shoulders. 克里斯矮小敦实，双肩宽厚。 He’s a bit shorter than me. 他比我稍矮些。4 book/letter 书/信SHORT/NOT LONG a book, letter etc that is short does not have many words or pages 简短的 OPP long a short novel 一部短篇小说 I wrote a short note to explain. 我写了张简短的便条作解释。 → short story5 not enough 不够的 a) if you are short of something, you do not have enough of it 缺少的be short (of something) Can you lend me a couple of dollars? I’m a little short. 你能借点钱给我吗？我手头有点紧。be short of money/cash/funds Our libraries are short of funds. 我们的图书馆缺少经费。be 5p/$10 etc short Have you all paid me? I’m about £9 short. 你们都付钱给我了吗？我大概还差九英镑。I’m a bit short British English spoken (=I haven’t got much money at the moment) 我目前手头有点紧somebody is not short of something British English (=they have a lot of it) 某人不缺某物 Your little girl’s not short of confidence, is she? 你的小女儿自信心很足，是吗？ They’re not short of a few bob (=they are rich). 他们不缺钱。 b) if something is short, there is not enough of it 不足的，短缺的 Money was short in those days. 那时候钱很紧。 It’s going to be difficult – time is short. 难办了——时间不够。 Gasoline was in short supply (=not enough of it was available) after the war. 战后汽油供应短缺。6 be short on something to have less of something than you should have 缺乏某物7 less than 少于LESS a little less than a number 少于，未达到 〔某个数目〕8 short notice SUDDENLYif something is short notice, you are told about it only a short time before it happens 提前很短时间的通知，很迟才通知9 in the short term/run SOONduring the period of time that is not very far into the future 在短期内 → short-term10 have a short memory if someone has a short memory, they soon forget something that has happened 记性不好11 be short for something SHORT/NOT LONGto be a shorter way of saying a name 是某事物的简称12 be short of breath to be unable to breathe easily, especially because you are unhealthy 呼吸短促，气喘吁吁〔尤因身体不健康〕13 be short with somebody RUDE/IMPOLITEto speak to someone using very few words, in a way that seems rude or unfriendly 对某人说话简慢无礼14 have a short temper/fuse BAD-TEMPEREDto get angry very easily 脾气暴躁15 get/be given short shrift SYMPATHIZE#if you or your idea, suggestion etc is given short shrift, you are told immediately that you are wrong and are not given any attention or sympathy 〔观点、建议等〕当即遭到否定，受冷遇16 be nothing/little short of something VERYused to emphasize that something is very good, very surprising etc 毫不逊于…，简 直就是…〔用于强调〕17 draw/get the short straw JOB/TASKto be given something difficult or unpleasant to do, especially when other people have been given something better 得个苦差事；比别人吃亏18 make short work of (doing) something FINISH DOING somethingto finish something quickly and easily, especially food or a job 迅速完成某事物，轻易解决某事物〔尤指食物或工作〕19 have/get somebody by the short and curlies (also have/get somebody by the short hairs) British English informal not polite to put someone in a situation in which they are forced to do or accept what you want 强迫某人做，硬逼某人接受20 be one ... short of a ... spoken used humorously to say that someone is a little crazy or stupid 〔某人〕有点冒傻气[愚蠢]〔幽默用法〕21 short time British English when workers work for fewer hours than usual, because the company cannot afford to pay them their full wage 短工时，缩短工作时间〔因公司支付不起全额工资〕22. in short order formalSHORT TIME in a short time and without delay 在短时间内，毫不拖延地23. give somebody short measure British English old-fashionedSELL to give someone less than the correct amount of something, especially in a shop 〔尤指商店售货〕少给某人分量，给某人的分量不足24. sound 声音 technicalSL a short vowel is pronounced quickly without being emphasized, for example the sound of a in ‘cat’, e in ‘bet’, and i in ‘bit’ 〔元音〕发短音的 OPP long —shortness noun [uncountable] He was suffering from shortness of breath. 他患有气短的毛病。 Shirley was very conscious of her shortness and always wore high heels. 雪莉对自己个子矮很在意，总是穿高跟鞋。 → life’s too short at life(27) THESAURUStime 时间short not long 时间短的,短暂的I lived in Tokyo for a short time. 我曾在东京短暂居住。Smokers have a shorter life expectancy than non-smokers. 烟民的预期寿命比非烟民短。brief especially written lasting only for a short time. Brief is more formal than short, and is used especially in written English 短暂的,短时间的〔brief比short正式,尤用于书面英语〕The president will make a brief visit to Seattle today. 今天总统将在西雅图作短暂访问。He coached Hingis for a brief period in the 1990s. 他在20世纪90年代曾短时间当过辛吉斯的教练。quick [only before noun] taking a short time to do something 很快的,快速的I had a quick look at the map. 我很快地看了一眼地图。He had a quick shower and then went out. 他匆匆洗了澡,然后出去了。short-lived lasting only for a short time – used especially when someone wishes that a good situation had been able to last for longer 短命的,短期的〔尤指某人希望好的状况能长久〕 short-lived success 短暂的成功The ceasefire was short-lived. 那是短暂的停火。a short-lived romance 短命的爱情short-lived optimism about the economy 对经济的短暂乐观 fleeting lasting only for an extremely short time – used especially when someone wishes that something had been able to last for longer 转瞬即逝的,短暂的〔尤指某人希望某事物能持续更长时间〕a fleeting visit 匆匆的访问a fleeting smile 一掠而过的笑容She caught a fleeting glimpse of him. 她只匆匆地了他一眼。a fleeting moment of happiness 幸福的瞬间na fleeting thoughtmomentary lasting for a very short time – used especially about feelings or pauses 〔尤指情感或停顿〕片刻的,瞬间的There was a momentary pause in the conversation. 谈话中有片刻的停顿。The momentary panic ended when he found his two-year-old son waiting happily outside the store. 看到两岁的儿子开开心心地等在商店外面,他一时的惊恐消失了。passing [only before noun] lasting only for a short time – used especially when people are only interested in something or mention something for a short time 〔尤指兴趣或对某事的提起〕短暂的,一时的passing fashions 一时流行的风尚He made only a passing reference to war. 他只略微提及战争。It’s just a passing phase (=it will end soon). 这只是一个暂时的阶段。ephemeral formal lasting only for a short time, and ending quickly like everything else in this world 短暂的,短促的Beauty is ephemeral. 美是短暂的。the ephemeral nature of our existence 生命的短暂His wealth proved to be ephemeral. 他的财富最后转眼成空。person 人short someone who is short is not as tall as most people 个子矮的He was a short fat man. 他又矮又胖。not very tall quite short. This phrase sounds more gentle than saying that someone is short 不是很高的〔比short委婉〕She wasn’t very tall – maybe about 1.60 m. 她不是很高——可能一米六左右。small short and with a small body 个子矮小的My mother was a small woman. 我母亲是个个子矮小的女人。The girl was quite small for her age (=smaller than other girls of the same age). 以她的年龄来说,这女孩个子挺小的。petite used about a woman who is attractively short and thin 〔女子〕娇小的She was a petite woman with blonde hair. 她是一个娇小的金发女子。stocky used about a boy or man who is short, heavy, and strong 〔男孩或男子〕矮而结实的,粗壮的Harry was stocky and middle-aged. 哈里是一个敦实的中年人。dumpy short and fat 矮墩墩的,矮胖的a dumpy girl with red hair 一个矮墩墩的红头发女孩diminutive formal or literary very short or small – used especially in descriptions in novels 非常矮小的〔尤用于小说描写〕a diminutive figure dressed in black 穿着黑衣的矮小身影stubby stubby fingers or toes are short and thick 〔手指或脚趾〕又短又粗的the baby’s stubby little fingers 宝宝胖乎乎的小手指n GRAMMAR: Order of adjectivesIf there is more than one adjective, the adjectives are usually used in a fixed order.You say: I bought a beautiful short dress. ✗Don’t say: I bought a short beautiful dress.You say: She has short black hair. ✗Don’t say: She has black short hair.Examples from the Corpus
short• Suddenly, every day seems just that little bit shorter.• 'What does she look like?' 'She's short and fat, with brown hair.'• Brad is fairly short and stocky.• But it was always widely feared that the narrow time frame was far too short and would work against an effective peace.• a short course in aromatherapy• She has short curly hair and wears glasses.• Sandy took a short cut home.• Do you know any short cuts to the hospital?• It's a short drive from the airport.• Perhaps more significant are the events in the remaining and short history of the Rochdale Co-operative Manufacturing Society.• Please write a short paragraph explaining your reasons for applying to this college.• a short pause in the conversation• I said after a short pause.• It would have been better if they'd closed the road for a short period of time while the repairs were done.• The problem worsens with the relentless financial pressures for immediate performance in the short run.• a short-sleeved T-shirt• The chapters are really short, so I read a couple every night.• Ken gave a short speech at the award ceremony.• Graham made a short speech of thanks after the ceremony.• a short, stocky man with powerful shoulders• a book of short stories• Mr Haddad was several inches shorter than his wife.• I've just been living here a short time.• I really do feel this way for a short time.• Chris went for a short walk to clear his head.• A short while later, the doorbell rang.a short time• How did you manage to do all this in such a short time?• He told me before she came that she was asking for somewhere secret to stay for a short time.• Is he the kind of man to lend you the rings for luck for a short time?• I think he went to prison for a short time.• The police arrived within a very short time.• The talk should only last a short time.• Your friends left a short time ago.• Employees may try working at the new location for a short time and then decide not to continue.• After a short time had passed he began to tap his foot on the kerb impatiently.• Within a short time her influence in the field of social work spread beyond the confines of Denison House.• I thought about my dear wife, and for a short time I felt better.• Alistair arrived at the party a short time later, and he too seemed to be known among the various performers.• Unfortunately, we could only spend a short time together.• As a result of her actions, Amelia became even more popular and within a short time was practically running Ogontz.short distance• They drift off lazily to the west for a short distance.• At first, they assemble a short distance away, shyly facing the adults, who wave, smile, say hello.• It was built without delay, a short distance into Tennison Road, alongside a small market garden.• Taking a deep breath, Eline crossed the road and walked the short distance to Joe's house.• Lytham St Annes, a short distance to the south, has sandy beaches and several excellent golf courses.• She walked the short distance to work, seeing nothing of the beauty of the day.• Even within a short distance we can see remarkable changes of thickness.• The vehicles will go through deep drifts for short distances when the momentum of the vehicle will carry it through.be short (of something)• Can you lend me a couple of dollars? I'm still a little short.• Jill dropped out of college two credits short of graduation.• At first in a bunch, then stringing out, some hastening, some loitering, though the distance is short.• My breath is short, and my heartbeat thunders intermittently in the ear against the pillow.• Communications are short and publication is rapid, providing information on new avenues of research in the shortest possible time.• He was short, in his fifties, wearing a white shirt with a brown paisley pattern.• She can't be short of a bob or two.• The Democrats are three votes short of a majority in the Senate.• Their huts were short tepees protected by tree branches or rounded huts covered with animal skins.• Clinic measurements of children under 2 years of age tended to show length to be shorter than actual. 3.• As the majority of the words would be shorter than this, there would a large amount of wasted space.just/a little short of something• As far as I was concerned, it was just a little short of hack work.short2 ●●○ noun 1 shorts [plural]2 in short SUMMARIZEused when you want to give the main point of something 总而言之，简单地说3 for short used as a shorter way of saying a name 简称，缩写4. [countable] informalAMF a short film shown in the cinema 〔在电影正片前放映的〕短片► see thesaurus at movie5 [countable] British English informalDFD a strong alcoholic drink that is not beer or wine, drunk in a small glass 〔用小酒杯喝的〕烈酒 SYN American English shot6 [countable] informalTEE a short circuit 短路 → the long and the short of it at long1(10)Examples from the Corpus
short• There must be a short in the system.• He was pale; the portion of his legs between his socks and shorts was white.• Joe explained that oversized jeans were necessary to showcase wildly patterned boxer shorts.• He smiled, taking in Willie's crumpled grey shorts and jersey.• He jerked down his shorts, and sat with legs spread on the edge of a slope-backed chair.• The odd thing is that it isn't the big chaps in shorts who are under fire.• I sat on the rocky slope above Gay Acres, not wanting to stain my white shorts on the grass.short3 ●○○ adverb 1 fall short of something FAILto be less than what you need, expected, or hoped for, or to fail to reach a satisfactory standard 达不到〔目的、期望、标准〕2 be running short (of/on something) ENOUGH#if you are running short of something, or if something is running short, it is being used up and there will soon not be enough left （某物）使用殆尽，即将用完3 stop short of doing something to almost do something but then decide not to do it 将要做某事时突然罢手，险些做某事4 stop short STOP DOING somethingQUIETto suddenly stop speaking or stop what you are doing, because something has surprised you or you have just thought of something 〔在说话或做事时因吃惊或想到某事而〕突然停下5 be cut short STOP something THAT IS HAPPENINGif something is cut short, it is stopped before you expect or before it is finished 突然中断6 cut somebody short INTERRUPTto interrupt and stop someone when they are speaking 打断某人的话7 pull/bring somebody up short STOP DOING somethingSTOP MOVINGto surprise or shock someone so that they stop what they are doing or saying to think for a moment 让某人怔了一下，使某人愣了片刻8 3 metres/5 miles etc short of something without reaching a place you are trying to get to, because you are still a particular distance from it 距某处还差三米/五英里等9 two weeks/a month etc short of something two weeks, a month etc before something 距某时间不到两星期/一个月等10 short of (doing) something IFwithout actually doing something 除非（做）某事11 come up short to fail to win or achieve something 未能赢取；未能获得12 go short (of something) ENOUGH# British English to have less of something than you need 不够，欠缺（某物）13. be taken short/be caught short British English informalHBH to have a sudden strong need to go to the toilet when you are not near one 突然要上厕所〔而此时附近正好没有厕所〕Examples from the Corpus
short• He had short black hair, a scruffy moustache and a pointed nose.• Charles was short, heavyset, and forty-three years old.• It is the record of a glory that was short lived, but makes an illustrious event in Aarau's history.• Attempts to introduce drift-nets into neighbouring New Zealand waters were more short lived.short4 (also short out) verb [intransitive, transitive] TEEto short-circuit, or make something do this （使）短路 The toaster shorted and caused a fire. 烤面包机短路，引起了火灾。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
short• Customers were being shorted about two ounces per glass of beer.• The fire was caused by a toaster that shorted out.From Longman Business Dictionaryshortshort1 /ʃɔːtʃɔːrt/ adjective1not having as much of something as there should be or as much as you needHave you all paid me? I’m still about £9 short.short ofThe insurance fund was running short of cash.2be short of stock/be short on stockFINANCE if someone is short of stock, they have sold shares that they do not yet own, believing that the price will fall before the shares have to be deliveredshortshort2 adverbFINANCE1if someone sells bonds, shares, currencies etc short, they sell bonds etc that they do not yet own believing that the price will fall so that they can be bought more cheaply before they have to be deliveredtraders who sell short2go short (on something) to sell bonds, shares, currencies etc that you do not own, believing that their value will fall and that you will be able to buy them more cheaply before they have to be deliveredThese money managers go short, making bets that certain stocks will decline.shortshort3 verb [intransitive, transitive]FINANCE to sell shares that you do not yet own, believing that the price will fall so that the shares can be bought more cheaply before they have to be deliveredMany were actually shorting the market, betting prices would fall. —shorting noun [uncountable]For those with the nerves for it, shorting can be a grand way to make money.→ See Verb tableOrigin short1 Old English scortshort1 adjective →10-24
→n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1short2 nounshort3 adverbshort4 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
→n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1short2 nounshort3 adverbshort4 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
for continuing Corpus or time Business a only or little happening
Short
Short, Clare /kleəʳ/
(1946–) a British politician in the Labour Party, who became the Secretary of State (=chief minister) for International Development in 1997. She is thought of as someone who has strong socialist beliefs and who is more willing than most politicians to say exactly what she thinks. Because of this, many people admire her, but she has often been criticized by leaders of her own party. She decided to leave the government in 2003, saying that the Prime Minister had broken his promise to her about going to war with Iraq.
Short, Clare /kleəʳ/
(1946–) a British politician in the Labour Party, who became the Secretary of State (=chief minister) for International Development in 1997. She is thought of as someone who has strong socialist beliefs and who is more willing than most politicians to say exactly what she thinks. Because of this, many people admire her, but she has often been criticized by leaders of her own party. She decided to leave the government in 2003, saying that the Prime Minister had broken his promise to her about going to war with Iraq.
short
short1 S1 W1 /ʃɔːt $ ʃɔːrt/ adjective (comparative shorter, superlative shortest)
OPP long:
a short meeting
Morris gave a short laugh.
a short course on business English
Winter is coming and the days are getting shorter.
I’ve only been in Brisbane a short time.
For a short while (=a short time), the city functioned as the region’s capital.
I learned a lot during my short period as a junior reporter.
Germany achieved spectacular economic success in a relatively short period of time.
They met and married within a short space of time.
I promise to keep the meeting short and sweet (=short in a way that is good, especially not talking for a long time).
For a few short weeks (=they seemed to pass very quickly), the sun shone and the fields turned gold.
2. LENGTH/DISTANCE measuring a small amount in length or distance
OPP long:
a short skirt
Anita had her hair cut short.
They went by the shortest route, across the fields.
Carol’s office was only a short distance away, and she decided that she would walk there.
a short walk/flight/drive
It’s a short drive to the airport.
The hotel is only a short walk from the beach.
3. NOT TALL someone who is short is not as tall as most people
OPP tall:
a short plump woman
Chris was short and stocky, with broad shoulders.
He’s a bit shorter than me.
4. BOOK/LETTER a book, letter etc that is short does not have many words or pages
OPP long:
a short novel
I wrote a short note to explain. ⇨ short story
5. NOT ENOUGH
a. if you are short of something, you do not have enough of it
be short (of something)
Can you lend me a couple of dollars? I’m a little short.
be short of money/cash/funds
Our libraries are short of funds.
be 5p/$10 etc short
Have you all paid me? I’m about £9 short.
I’m a bit short British English spoken (=I haven’t got much money at the moment)
somebody is not short of something British English (=they have a lot of it)
Your little girl’s not short of confidence, is she?
They’re not short of a few bob (=they are rich).
b. if something is short, there is not enough of it:
Money was short in those days.
It’s going to be difficult – time is short.
Gasoline was in short supply (=not enough of it was available) after the war.
6. be short on something to have less of something than you should have:
He’s a nice guy, but a little short on brains.
The president’s speech was long on colorful phrases but short on solutions.
7. LESS THAN a little less than a number
short of
Her time was only two seconds short of the world record.
just/a little short of something
She was just short of six feet tall.
8. short notice if something is short notice, you are told about it only a short time before it happens:
I can’t make it Friday. It’s very short notice.
at short notice British English on short notice American English:
The party was arranged at short notice.
9. in the short term/run during the period of time that is not very far into the future ⇨ short-term:
These measures may save money in the short term, but we’ll end up spending more later.
10. have a short memory if someone has a short memory, they soon forget something that has happened:
Voters have very short memories.
11. be short for something to be a shorter way of saying a name:
Her name is Alex, short for Alexandra.
12. be short of breath to be unable to breathe easily, especially because you are unhealthy:
He couldn’t walk far without getting short of breath.
13. be short with somebody to speak to someone using very few words, in a way that seems rude or unfriendly:
Sorry I was short with you on the phone this morning.
14. have a short temper/fuse to get angry very easily:
Mr Yanto, who had a very short fuse, told her to get out.
15. get/be given short shrift if you or your idea, suggestion etc is given short shrift, you are told immediately that you are wrong and are not given any attention or sympathy:
McLaren got short shrift from all the record companies when he first presented his new band to them in 1976.
16. be nothing/little short of something used to emphasize that something is very good, very surprising etc:
Her recovery seemed nothing short of a miracle.
The results are little short of astonishing.
17. draw/get the short straw to be given something difficult or unpleasant to do, especially when other people have been given something better:
Giles drew the short straw, and has to give us a talk this morning.
18. make short work of (doing) something to finish something quickly and easily, especially food or a job:
The kids made short work of the sandwiches.
Computers can make short work of complex calculations.
19. have/get somebody by the short and curlies (also have/get somebody by the short hairs) British English informal not polite to put someone in a situation in which they are forced to do or accept what you want:
I signed the contract – they’ve got me by the short and curlies.
20. be one ... short of a ... spoken used humorously to say that someone is a little crazy or stupid:
Lady, are you a few aces short of a deck?
He’s one sandwich short of a picnic.
21. short time British English when workers work for fewer hours than usual, because the company cannot afford to pay them their full wage:
Most of the workers were put on short time.
22. in short order formal in a short time and without delay
23. give somebody short measure British English old-fashioned to give someone less than the correct amount of something, especially in a shop
24. SOUND technical a short vowel is pronounced quickly without being emphasized, for example the sound of a in ‘cat’, e in ‘bet’, and i in ‘bit’
OPP long
—shortness noun [uncountable]:
He was suffering from shortness of breath.
Shirley was very conscious of her shortness and always wore high heels.
⇨ life’s too short at life(27)
■ time
▪short not long: I lived in Tokyo for a short time. | Smokers have a shorter life expectancy than non-smokers.
▪brief especially written lasting only for a short time. Brief is more formal than short, and is used especially in written English: The President will make a brief visit to Seattle today. | He coached Hingis for a brief period in the 1990s.
▪quick [only before noun] taking a short time to do something: I had a quick look at the map. | He had a quick shower and then went out.
▪short-lived lasting only for a short time – used especially when someone wishes that a good situation had been able to last for longer: short-lived success | The ceasefire was short-lived. | a short-lived romance | short-lived optimism about the economy
▪fleeting lasting only for an extremely short time – used especially when someone wishes that something had been able to last for longer: a fleeting visit | a fleeting smile | She caught a fleeting glimpse of him. | a fleeting moment of happiness | a fleeting thought
▪momentary lasting for a very short time – used especially about feelings or pauses: There was a momentary pause in the conversation. | The momentary panic ended when he found his two-year-old son waiting happily outside the store.
▪passing [only before noun] lasting only for a short time – used especially when people are only interested in something or mention something for a short time: passing fashions | He made only a passing reference to war. | It’s just a passing phase (=it will end soon).
▪ephemeral formal lasting only for a short time, and ending quickly like everything else in this world: Beauty is ephemeral. | the ephemeral nature of our existence | His wealth proved to be ephemeral.
■ person
▪short someone who is short is not as tall as most people: He was a short fat man.
▪not very tall quite short. This phrase sounds more gentle than saying that someone is short: She wasn’t very tall – maybe about 1.60 m.
▪small short and with a small body: My mother was a small woman. | The girl was quite small for her age (=smaller than other girls of the same age).
▪petite used about a woman who is attractively short and thin: She was a petite woman with blonde hair.
▪stocky used about a boy or man who is short, heavy, and strong: Harry was stocky and middle-aged.
▪dumpy short and fat: a dumpy girl with red hair
▪diminutive formal literary very short or small – used especially in descriptions in novels: a diminutive figure dressed in black
▪stubby stubby fingers or toes are short and thick: the baby’s stubby little fingers
short2 adverb
The Republicans increased their share of the vote, but still fell short of a majority.
Shares in the company dropped 26p yesterday, as profits fell short of City expectations.
fall short of a goal/target/ideal
The economy fell short of the Treasury’s target of 2% growth.
fall far/a long way/well short of something
Facilities in these schools fall far short of the standards required.
One or two songs on the album are interesting, but most fall short of the mark (=are not good enough).
2. be running short (of/on something) if you are running short of something, or if something is running short, it is being used up and there will soon not be enough left:
We’re running short of coffee again.
Our supplies of petrol were running short.
Come on, time’s running short__
3. stop short of doing something to almost do something but then decide not to do it:
They accused the president of incompetence, but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
4. stop short to suddenly stop speaking or stop what you are doing, because something has surprised you or you have just thought of something:
Seeing her tears, he stopped short.
5. be cut short if something is cut short, it is stopped before you expect or before it is finished:
His career was tragically cut short when, at the age of 42, he died of a heart attack.
6. cut somebody short to interrupt and stop someone when they are speaking:
I was halfway through my explanation when Walter cut me short.
7. pull/bring somebody up short to surprise or shock someone so that they stop what they are doing or saying to think for a moment:
The question brought her up short, but, after a moment’s hesitation, she answered it.
8. 3 metres/5 miles etc short of something without reaching a place you are trying to get to, because you are still a particular distance from it:
The plane touched down 200 metres short of the runway.
9. two weeks/a month etc short of something two weeks, a month etc before something:
He died two days short of his fifty-sixth birthday.
10. short of (doing) something without actually doing something:
Short of locking her in her room, he couldn’t really stop her from seeing Jack.
11. come up short to fail to win or achieve something:
We’ve been to the state tournament four times, but we’ve come up short every time.
12. go short (of something) British English to have less of something than you need:
She made sure that her children never went short.
13. be taken short/be caught short British English informal to have a sudden strong need to go to the toilet when you are not near one
short3 noun
a. short trousers ending at or above the knees:
a pair of shorts
tourists in shorts and T-shirts ⇨ Bermuda shorts, cycling shorts
b. especially American English men’s underwear with short legs:
Craig was standing in the kitchen in his shorts. ⇨ boxer shorts, Jockey shorts
2. in short used when you want to give the main point of something:
Carter hoped for greater trust between the two nations, more trade, more cultural exchanges – in short, a genuine peace.
3. for short used as a shorter way of saying a name:
His name’s Maximilian, but we just call him Max for short.
4. [countable] informal a short film shown in the cinema
5. [countable] British English informal a strong alcoholic drink that is not beer or wine, drunk in a small glass
SYN shot American English:
Do you fancy a short?
6. [countable] informal a short circuit:
a short in the system
⇨ the long and the short of it at long1(10)
▪ film especially British English, movie especially American English a series of images that tell a story and are shown in a cinema or on television: What’s your favourite movie? | It won the award for best foreign film. | a made-for-TV movie
▪motion picture formal (also picture ) a film – used especially by people who make films or by critics: a major Hollywood motion picture | Tell us about your latest picture.
▪blockbuster informal a very successful film: Steven Spielberg’s latest Hollywood blockbuster
▪flick informal a film – a very informal use: an action flick
▪documentary a film that gives detailed information and facts about a particular subject: a documentary on the rain forest
▪feature film a film made to be shown in cinemas: The book was later made into a full-length feature film starring Sean Penn.
▪comedy a film intended to make people laugh: Monroe appeared in a number of comedies.
▪romantic comedy (also romcom British English informal) a film about two people who are in love, which is intended to make the people who watch it feel happy: ‘Notting Hill’ is a romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
▪thriller an exciting film, especially about murder or serious crimes: ‘The Birds’ is a classic Hitchcock thriller.
▪film noir a film that shows strong feelings of fear or evil and whose characters are often immoral, or these films in general: ‘The Big Sleep’ is a classic Hollywood film noir.
▪action film/movie a film that has lots of fighting, explosions etc: Stallone’s latest action movie
▪horror film/movie a frightening film about ghosts, murders etc: She loves watching old horror movies.
▪western a film with cowboys in it: John Wayne is famous for making westerns.
▪science fiction film/movie (also sci-fi film/movie informal) a film about imaginary events in the future or in outer space: ‘2001’ is probably the most famous sci-fi movie ever made.
▪gangster film/movie a film about violent criminals
▪silent film/movie an old film without any sound: The 1920s were the golden age of silent movies.
▪an independent film/movie a film made by a small film company
▪animated film/movie/cartoon a film with characters that are drawn or made using a computer: One of his first animated films was ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.
▪anime /ˈænɪmeɪ, -mə/ a type of Japanese animated film, which often has a science fiction story: Miyazaki’s anime film ‘Spirited Away’ became an international success. | an anime character
▪CGI the use of computers to create characters and images in a film: The film uses CGI. | Disney’s latest CGI movie
▪short a short film, usually shown before a longer movie in the cinema: an animated short
▪trailer a series of short scenes from a film or programme, shown in order to advertise it in a cinema, on television etc: We had to sit through all the trailers.
short4 (also short out) verb [intransitive and transitive]
The toaster shorted and caused a fire.
| I |
adjective (comparative shorter, superlative shortest) Word Family: noun: short, shortage, shortness, shorts, shorty; verb: shorten, short; adverb: short, shortly; adjective: short
Language: Old English
Origin: scort
1. TIME happening or continuing for only a little time or for less time than usual Origin: scort
OPP long:
2. LENGTH/DISTANCE measuring a small amount in length or distance
OPP long:
a short walk/flight/drive
3. NOT TALL someone who is short is not as tall as most people
OPP tall:
4. BOOK/LETTER a book, letter etc that is short does not have many words or pages
OPP long:
5. NOT ENOUGH
a. if you are short of something, you do not have enough of it
be short (of something)
be short of money/cash/funds
be 5p/$10 etc short
I’m a bit short British English spoken (=I haven’t got much money at the moment)
somebody is not short of something British English (=they have a lot of it)
b. if something is short, there is not enough of it:
6. be short on something to have less of something than you should have:
7. LESS THAN a little less than a number
short of
just/a little short of something
8. short notice if something is short notice, you are told about it only a short time before it happens:
at short notice British English on short notice American English:
9. in the short term/run during the period of time that is not very far into the future ⇨ short-term:
10. have a short memory if someone has a short memory, they soon forget something that has happened:
11. be short for something to be a shorter way of saying a name:
12. be short of breath to be unable to breathe easily, especially because you are unhealthy:
13. be short with somebody to speak to someone using very few words, in a way that seems rude or unfriendly:
14. have a short temper/fuse to get angry very easily:
15. get/be given short shrift if you or your idea, suggestion etc is given short shrift, you are told immediately that you are wrong and are not given any attention or sympathy:
16. be nothing/little short of something used to emphasize that something is very good, very surprising etc:
17. draw/get the short straw to be given something difficult or unpleasant to do, especially when other people have been given something better:
18. make short work of (doing) something to finish something quickly and easily, especially food or a job:
19. have/get somebody by the short and curlies (also have/get somebody by the short hairs) British English informal not polite to put someone in a situation in which they are forced to do or accept what you want:
20. be one ... short of a ... spoken used humorously to say that someone is a little crazy or stupid:
21. short time British English when workers work for fewer hours than usual, because the company cannot afford to pay them their full wage:
22. in short order formal in a short time and without delay
23. give somebody short measure British English old-fashioned to give someone less than the correct amount of something, especially in a shop
24. SOUND technical a short vowel is pronounced quickly without being emphasized, for example the sound of a in ‘cat’, e in ‘bet’, and i in ‘bit’
OPP long
—shortness noun [uncountable]:
⇨ life’s too short at life(27)
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adverb Word Family: noun: short, shortage, shortness, shorts, shorty; verb: shorten, short; adverb: short, shortly; adjective: short
1. fall short of something to be less than what you need, expected, or hoped for, or to fail to reach a satisfactory standard: fall short of a goal/target/ideal
fall far/a long way/well short of something
2. be running short (of/on something) if you are running short of something, or if something is running short, it is being used up and there will soon not be enough left:
3. stop short of doing something to almost do something but then decide not to do it:
4. stop short to suddenly stop speaking or stop what you are doing, because something has surprised you or you have just thought of something:
5. be cut short if something is cut short, it is stopped before you expect or before it is finished:
6. cut somebody short to interrupt and stop someone when they are speaking:
7. pull/bring somebody up short to surprise or shock someone so that they stop what they are doing or saying to think for a moment:
8. 3 metres/5 miles etc short of something without reaching a place you are trying to get to, because you are still a particular distance from it:
9. two weeks/a month etc short of something two weeks, a month etc before something:
10. short of (doing) something without actually doing something:
11. come up short to fail to win or achieve something:
12. go short (of something) British English to have less of something than you need:
13. be taken short/be caught short British English informal to have a sudden strong need to go to the toilet when you are not near one
| III |
noun Word Family: noun: short, shortage, shortness, shorts, shorty; verb: shorten, short; adverb: short, shortly; adjective: short
1. shorts [plural]a. short trousers ending at or above the knees:
b. especially American English men’s underwear with short legs:
2. in short used when you want to give the main point of something:
3. for short used as a shorter way of saying a name:
4. [countable] informal a short film shown in the cinema
5. [countable] British English informal a strong alcoholic drink that is not beer or wine, drunk in a small glass
SYN shot American English:
6. [countable] informal a short circuit:
⇨ the long and the short of it at long1(10)
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(also short out) verb [intransitive and transitive] Word Family: noun: short, shortage, shortness, shorts, shorty; verb: shorten, short; adverb: short, shortly; adjective: short
to short-circuit, or make something do this: 
also