short
UK: ʃɔːt | US: ʃɔːrt
adj. measuring a small distance from end to end
adj. lasting a small amount of time
adj. not having enough of something
n. a short circuit
vt. to cause a short circuit
The word "short" traces back to Old English scort, meaning "not long" or "small in length." It shares Proto-Germanic roots with words like German kurz and Dutch kort. The original sense focused on physical length but expanded metaphorically to describe duration ("short time") or insufficiency ("short of money"). Unlike many modern English words, "short" remains monomorphic—its meaning is carried by the entire root without separable prefixes or suffixes.
The rope was too short to reach the ground.
She gave a short speech at the ceremony.
We’re running short on supplies.
The circuit failed due to a short.
He accidentally shorted the wires.