Short  —adj. 1 a measuring little from head to foot, top to bottom, or end to end; not long. B not long in duration. C seeming short (a few short years of happiness). 2 a (usu. Foll. By of, on) deficient; scanty (short of spoons). B not far-reaching; acting or being near at hand (short range). 3 a concise; brief. B curt; uncivil. 4 (of the memory) unable to remember distant events. 5  (of a vowel or syllable) having the lesser of the two recognized durations. 6 (of pastry) easily crumbled. 7 (of stocks etc.) Sold or selling when the amount is not in hand, with reliance on getting the deficit at a lower price in time for delivery. 8 (of a drink of spirits) undiluted. 9 (of odds or a chance) nearly even. —adv. 1 before the natural or expected time or place; abruptly. 2 rudely. —n. 1 short circuit. 2 colloq. Short drink. 3 short film.  —v. Short-circuit.  be caught (or taken) short 1 be put at a disadvantage. 2 colloq. Urgently need to use the lavatory. Be short for be an abbreviation for. Come short of = fall short of. For short as a short name (tom for short). In short briefly. Short of 1 see sense 2a of adj. 2 less than (nothing short of a miracle). 3 distant from (two miles short of home). 4 without going so far as (did everything short of resigning). Short on colloq. See sense 2a of adj.  shortish adj. Shortness n. [old english]