Gadit

Short

Definitions (5)
1adjectiveHaving a small distance from one end to the other; not long.
The table is too short for the dining room.
She wore a short dress to the party.
The meeting was surprisingly short.
2adjectiveLacking in length of time; brief.
The movie was short but entertaining.
He gave a short speech at the event.
The vacation felt too short.
3nounA small amount or quantity.
He was paid short of what he was owed.
The recipe called for a short of sugar.
The team was a player short for the game.
4nounA short circuit in electrical terms, causing a failure or malfunction.
The lights went out due to a short in the wiring.
The electrician fixed the short in the circuit.
There was a short that caused the machine to stop working.
5verbTo sell securities or commodities that one does not own, with the hope of buying them back at a lower price.
He decided to short the stock, expecting its price to drop.
Investors often short shares they believe are overvalued.
She made a profit by shorting the currency.
Idioms & expressions
short and sweet, Concise and pleasant.
cut short, To interrupt or stop something before it is finished.
short fuse, A quick temper; easily angered.
Word Origin
Language
Old English
Original word
sceort
Originally meant
having little length
Background
The word 'short' comes from the Old English 'sceort', which meant having little length. It has retained this core meaning over centuries, evolving to describe not just physical length but also time and quantity.