Low - short and shallow

long

long [adjective] (DISTANCE)
US /lɑːŋ/ 
UK /lɒŋ/ 
Example: 

A long dress

GREAT LENGTH measuring a great length from one end to the other OPP short

Persian equivalent: 
Example: 

A long dress

Oxford Essential Dictionary

adjective (longer /, longest )

1 far from one end to the other:
Which is the longest river in the world?
She has long black hair.
Tokyo is a long way from London.
 opposite short Look at the note at far.

2 You use long to ask or talk about how far something is from one end to the other:
How long is the table?
The wall is 5?m long.
The noun is length.

3 continuing for a lot of time:
a long film
He's lived here for a long time.
 opposite short

4 You use long to ask or talk about the time from the beginning to the end of something:
How long is the lesson?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

long

I. long1 S1 W1 /lɒŋ $ lɒːŋ/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative longer, superlative longest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: long, lang]
1. GREAT LENGTH measuring a great length from one end to the other OPP short:
a long table
long hair
the longest tunnel in the world
He stretched out his long legs.
a long line of people
2. GREAT DISTANCE continuing or travelling a great distance from one place to another OPP short:
a long distance
Springfield is a long way from Chicago.
Liz lives in Cheltenham, which is a long way away.
long journey/walk/flight/drive etc (=a journey etc over a large distance that takes a lot of time)
It’s a long walk to the shops from here.
3. LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME continuing for a large amount of time, or for a larger amount of time than usual OPP short:
a long period of time
a long history of success
He has a long memory.
(for) a long time/while
He’s been gone a long time.
I haven’t been there for a long while.
It took a long time to get everything ready.
She died a long time ago.
long silence/pause/delay etc
There was a long silence before anybody spoke.
She’s recovering from a long illness.
Doctors often work long hours (=work for more time than is usual).
the longest time American English spoken (=a very long time)
It took me the longest time to figure out how to open the windows.
4. PARTICULAR LENGTH/DISTANCE/TIME used to talk or ask about a particular length, distance, or time:
How long is your garden?
How long is the film?
The cable is not quite long enough.
two metres/three miles etc long
The bridge is 140 feet long.
two hours/three days etc long
The speech was twenty minutes long.
5. WRITING containing a lot of words, letters, names, or pages OPP short:
a long novel
a long list
He has a very long name.
He owes money to a list of people as long as your arm (=a very long list).
6. CLOTHING covering all of your arms or legs OPP short:
a long dress
a long-sleeved shirt
7. TIRING/BORING spoken making you feel tired or bored:
It’s been a long day.
8. VOWEL technical a long vowel in a word is pronounced for a longer time than a short vowel with the same sound OPP short
9. how long is a piece of string? British English spoken used when there is no definite answer to a question:
‘How long will it take to finish the project?’ ‘How long is a piece of string?’
10. the long and (the) short of it spoken used when you are telling someone the most important facts about something rather than all the details:
The long and the short of it is that we missed the train.
11. the long arm of somebody/something written the power of someone or something that has authority, especially to catch and punish someone:
He won’t escape the long arm of the law.
12. long face a sad or disappointed expression on someone’s face
13. long in the tooth informal too old – used humorously:
I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of thing.
14. not long for this world literary likely to die or stop existing soon
15. long on something having a lot of a quality:
He was short on patience, but long on a sense of his own worth.
16. long odds if there are long odds against something happening, it is very unlikely that it will happen
17. in the long run/term used when talking about what will happen at a later time or when something is finished:
All our hard work will be worth it in the long run.
18. long shot someone or something with very little chance of success:
Chelsea are a 20–1 long shot to win the championship.
19. long time no see spoken used humorously to say hello when you have not seen someone for a long time
20. take the long view (of something) to think about the effect that something will have in the future rather than what happens now
21. a long way very much, far, or a great amount or degree:
We’re still a long way from achieving our sales targets.
Psychiatry has come a long way (=developed a lot) since the 1920s.
Your contributions will go a long way towards helping children in need (=will help to reach a goal).
by a long way/shot informal also by a long chalk )British English (=used when something is much better, quicker, cheaper etc)
It was his best performance this year, by a long way.
not by a long way/shot informal also not by a long chalk )British English (=not at all or not nearly)
He had not told Rory everything, not by a long shot.
22. long weekend three or more days, including Saturday and Sunday, when you do not have to go to work or school
at (long) last at ↑last3(2), ⇨ it’s a long story at ↑story(10), ⇨ cut/make a long story short at ↑story(11), ⇨ a little (of something) goes a long way at ↑little2(5), ⇨ have a long way to go at ↑way1(19)
• • •
THESAURUS
long continuing for a long time: The film was very long. | There has been a long period without rain.
lengthy continuing for a long time, especially longer than you want or expect: Drivers face lengthy delays on all roads out of the city. | Police are going through the lengthy process of re-examining all the evidence. | He faces a lengthy prison sentence.
long-running [only before noun] continuing for a long time - used especially about disputes, campaigns, or shows: He has been involved in a long-running dispute with his neighbour. | The programme is one of the longest-running series on television. | a long-running campaign to prevent the airport from being built
long-lasting continuing for a long time – used especially about effects or relationships: Stress can have long-lasting effects. | While at the school, she made many long-lasting friendships.
protracted formal continuing for a long time, especially an unusually long time: Despite protracted negotiations, they were unable to reach an agreement. | The couple have been involved in a protracted battle for custody of their children.
prolonged continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected, or longer in a way that makes a situation worse: He returned to work after a prolonged absence. | Studies have linked prolonged use of the drug to cancer. | a prolonged period of economic decline
extended [only before noun] continuing for a long time - used especially about visits, trips, breaks etc that last longer than was planned: an extended stay in hospital | He took an extended break from work after his father died. | She didn’t like being away from home for extended periods.
lasting [only before noun] strong enough or great enough to continue for a long time: The negotiations were aimed at achieving a lasting peace. | This affair has done lasting damage to the President’s credibility. | The book left a lasting impression on me.
enduring continuing for a long time – used especially about memories, influences, or feelings of liking someone or something: One of my most enduring memories is of going on holiday to France with my parents. | the enduring appeal of Conan Doyle's stories | his enduring love for Ireland
marathon [only before noun] continuing for a very long time and needing a lot of energy, patience, or determination: It was a marathon session of talks which continued until 3 am. | He arrived after a marathon journey across Europe.
■ too long
long-winded continuing for too long - used about speeches, answers, explanations etc: a very long-winded answer to a simple question | He gave a long-winded speech about the company's vision for the future.
interminable very long and boring: They faced an interminable wait in the departure lounge of the airport. | The journey seemed interminable.
long-drawn-out [only before noun] used about a process that continues for much too long: The news heightened expectations that the long-drawn-out investigation might be coming to a close.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

long

long [long longs longed longing] adjective, adverb, verb   [lɒŋ]    [lɔːŋ]    [lɑːŋ] 

 

adjective (long·er   [ˈlɒŋɡə(r)]  ;   [ˈlɔːŋɡər]  ; [ˈlɑːŋɡər]  long·est   [ˈlɒŋɡɪst]  ;   [ˈlɔːŋɡɪst]  ; [ˈlɑːŋɡɪst]  

DISTANCE
1. measuring or covering a great length or distance, or a greater length or distance than usual
She had long dark hair.
He walked down the long corridor.
It was the world's longest bridge.
a long journey/walk/drive/flight
We're a long way from anywhere here.
It's a long way away.

Opp:  short

2. used for asking or talking about particular lengths or distances
How long is the River Nile?
• The table is six feet long.

• The report is only three pages long.  

TIME

3. lasting or taking a great amount of time or more time than usual
He's been ill (for) a long time.
There was a long silence before she spoke.
I like it now the days are getting longer (= it stays light for more time each day).
a long book/film/list (= taking a lot of time to read/watch/deal with)
Nurses have to work long hours (= for more hours in the day than is usual).
(NAmE) He stared at them for the longest time (= for a very long time) before answering.

Opp:  short

4. used for asking or talking about particular periods of time
How long is the course?
• I think it's only three weeks long.

• How long a stay did you have in mind?

5. seeming to last or take more time than it really does because, for example, you are very busy or not happy
I'm tired. It's been a long day.
• We were married for ten long years.

Opp:  short  

CLOTHES

6. covering all or most of your legs or arms
She usually wears long skirts.
• a long-sleeved shirt

Opp:  short  

VOWEL SOUNDS

7. (phonetics) taking more time to make than a short vowel sound in the same position
Opp:  short 
more at it's as broad as it is long at  broad  adj., kick sth into the long grass at  kick  v., in the long/short/medium term at  term  n., go a long/some way towards doing sth at  way  n.  
Word Origin:
adj. and adv. n. Old English lang long lange longe Germanic Dutch German lang
v. Old English langian ‘grow long, prolong’ ‘dwell in thought, yearn’ Germanic Dutch langen ‘present, offer’ German langen ‘reach, extend’
 
Thesaurus:
long adj.
There was a long silence.
long-lasting|especially written prolongedlengthyextended|formal protracted
Opp: short, Opp: brief
a long/prolonged/lengthy/extended period
a long/prolonged/lengthy/protracted delay/dispute/illness
long/prolonged/lengthy/extended/protracted negotiations  
Word Family:
long adjective adverb
length noun
lengthy adjective
lengthen verb  
Which Word?:
(for) long / (for) a long time
Both (for) long and (for) a long time are used as expressions of time. In positive sentences (for) a long time is used: We’ve been friends a long time. (For) long is not used in positive sentences unless it is used with too, enough, as, so, seldom, etc: I stayed out in the sun for too long. You’ve been waiting long enough. Both (for) long and (for) a long time can be used in questions, but (for) long is usually preferred: Have you been waiting long?
In negative sentences (for) a long time sometimes has a different meaning from (for) long. Compare: I haven’t been here for a long time (= It is a long time since the last time I was here) and I haven’t been here long (= I arrived here only a short time ago)
Example Bank:
At 900 pages, the book is overly long.
Economy class can be uncomfortable for those with extra-long legs.
His drive to work is fairly long.
My hair had grown long.
That dress looks a bit long to me.
a pair of impossibly long legs
an unusually long pause
He let out a long slow breath.
How long is the film?
I haven't seen him for a long time.
I think it's only about two hours long.
I'm tired. It's been a long day.
It took me a long time to accept the situation.
Nurses have to work long hours.
a long book/film/list
a long corridor/bridge
• long hair

Idioms: as long as  as long as your arm  at long last  at the longest  by a long way  cut a long story short  for long  go a long way  go back a long way  have a long way to go  have come a long way  how long have you got?  how long is a piece of string?  in the long run  it's a long story.  long and short of it  long arm of something  long face  long in the tooth  long live somebody  long on something  long shot  long time no see  no longer  not by a long chalk  so long  take a long look at something  take the long view 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

long / lɒŋ /   / lɑːŋ / adjective (TIME)

A1 continuing for a large amount of time:

a long film/meeting

I've been waiting a long time .

It's a long time since I worked there.

Apparently the sessions are an hour long.
 

long / lɒŋ /   / lɑːŋ / adjective (DISTANCE)

A1 being a distance between two points that is more than average or usual:

long hair

long legs

a long dress

There was a long queue at the post office.

We're still a long way from the station.
 

long / lɒŋ /   / lɑːŋ / adjective (MANY WORDS)

A2 describes a piece of writing that has a lot of pages or words:

a long letter/book/report

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

long

I. TIME

/lɒŋ, AM lɔ:ŋ/

(longer /lɒŋgə(r), AM lɔ:ŋgər/, longest /lɒŋgɪst, AM lɔ:ŋgɪst/)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Long means a great amount of time or for a great amount of time.
Repairs to the cable did not take too long...
Have you known her parents long?...
I learned long ago to avoid these invitations...
The railway had obviously been built long after the house...
...long-established social traditions.
ADV: ADV with v, oft ADV adv/prep

The expression for long is used to mean ‘for a great amount of time’.
‘Did you live there?’—‘Not for long.’...
Developing countries won’t put up with the situation for much longer...
For too long there was a huge gap in the market.
PHRASE: PHR after v
2.
A long event or period of time lasts for a great amount of time or takes a great amount of time.
We had a long meeting with the attorney general...
They sat looking at each other for a long while...
He must have started writing his book a long time ago.
short
ADJ: usu ADJ n
3.
You use long to ask or talk about amounts of time.
How long have you lived around here?...
He has been on a diet for as long as any of his friends can remember...
She reflected no longer than a second before she decisively slit the envelope.
ADV: how ADV, as ADV as, ADV compar than

Long is also an adjective.
How long is the usual stay in hospital?...
The average commuter journey there is five hours long.
ADJ: how ADJ, amount ADJ
4.
A long speech, book, film, or list contains a lot of information or a lot of items and takes a lot of time to listen to, read, watch, or deal with.
He was making quite a long speech...
This is a long film, three hours and seven minutes.
short
ADJ: usu ADJ n
5.
If you describe a period of time or work as long, you mean it lasts for more hours or days than is usual, or seems to last for more time than it actually does.
Go to sleep. I’ve got a long day tomorrow...
She was a TV reporter and worked long hours...
This has been the longest week of my life.
short
ADJ: usu ADJ n
6.
If someone has a long memory, they are able to remember things that happened far back in the past.
short
ADJ: usu ADJ n
7.
Long is used in expressions such as all year long, the whole day long, and your whole life long to say and emphasize that something happens for the whole of a particular period of time.
We played that record all night long...
Snow is sometimes found all summer long upon the highest peaks.
ADV: n ADV [emphasis]

II. DISTANCE AND SIZE

/lɒŋ, AM lɔ:ŋ/

(longer /lɒŋgə(r), AM lɔ:ŋgər/, longest /lɒŋgɪst, AM lɔ:ŋgɪst/)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is long measures a great distance from one end to the other.
...a long table...
A long line of people formed outside the doctor’s office...
Her hair was long and dark...
short
ADJ
2.
A long distance is a great distance. A long journey or route covers a great distance.
His destination was Chobham Common, a long way from his Cotswold home...
The long journey tired him...
I went for a long walk.
short
ADJ: usu ADJ n
3.
A long piece of clothing covers the whole of someone’s legs or more of their legs than usual. Clothes with long sleeves cover the whole of someone’s arms.
She is wearing a long black dress.
...a long-sleeved blouse.
short
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
You use long to talk or ask about the distance something measures from one end to the other.
An eight-week-old embryo is only an inch long...
How long is the tunnel?...
In the roots of the olives, you could find centipedes as long as a pencil.
ADJ: amount ADJ, how ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than

Long is also a combining form.
...a three-foot-long gash in the tanker’s side.
COMB in ADJ

III. PHRASES

/lɒŋ, AM lɔ:ŋ/

(longer /lɒŋgə(r), AM lɔ:ŋgər/)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 6 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If you say that something is the case as long as or so long as something else is the case, you mean that it is only the case if the second thing is the case.
The interior minister said he would still support them, as long as they didn’t break the rules...
The president need not step down so long as the elections are held under international supervision.
PHRASE
2.
If you say that someone won’t be long, you mean that you think they will arrive or be back soon. If you say that it won’t be long before something happens, you mean that you think it will happen soon.
‘What’s happened to her?’—‘I’m sure she won’t be long.’...
If every tune from Radiohead is as good as this one is, it can’t be long before they are household names.
PHRASE: oft it PHR before cl
3.
If you say that something will happen or happened before long, you mean that it will happen or happened soon.
German interest rates will come down before long...
Before long he took over the editing of the magazine.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl
4.
Something that is no longer the case used to be the case but is not the case now. You can also say that something is not the case any longer.
Food shortages are no longer a problem...
I noticed that he wasn’t sitting by the door any longer.
PHRASE: PHR group/cl, PHR with v
5.
You can say so long as an informal way of saying goodbye.
Well, so long, pal, see you around.
= bye
CONVENTION [formulae]
6.
a long face: see face
at long last: see last
in the long run: see run
a long shot: see shot
in the long term: see term
long in the tooth: see tooth
to take the long view: see view
to go a long way: see way

IV. VERB USES

/lɒŋ, AM lɔ:ŋ/

(longs, longing, longed)
If you long for something, you want it very much.
Steve longed for the good old days...
I’m longing to meet her...
He longed for the winter to be over.
VERB: V for n, V to-inf, V for n to-inf
see also longing

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1long /ˈlɑːŋ/ adj lon·ger /ˈlɑːŋgɚ/; lon·gest /ˈlɑːŋgəst/
1 a : extending a great distance from one end to the other end : not short
long hair
long legs
• a long corridor
• The bridge is the longest in the world.
• We drove a long distance.
• the long/longer side of the building
• The pants are a little (too) long for me. [=they should be shorter in order to fit me]
b : extending a specified distance : having a specified length
• one meter long
• The whale was 50 feet long.
• “How long was the race?” “The race was five miles long.”
2 a : lasting or continuing for a great amount of time
• a long pause/wait
• They've had a long and happy marriage.
• She finds it hard to sit still for long periods of time.
• It's a long movie.
• The company has a long tradition of serving its customers well.
• I've known them for a long time. [=many years]
• I haven't seen them for/in a (very) long time. = (US) I haven't seen them for the longest time.
• The changes took a long time to come. = The changes were long in coming. [=the changes did not happen quickly]
• It happened a long time ago. [=far in the past; not at all recently]
• The test should take an hour at the longest. [=it should not be longer than an hour]
• She is used to working long hours. [=she often works for many hours at a time]
• He has a very long memory. [=he remembers things that happened far in the past]
• someone with long experience in the UN [=someone who has been in the UN many years]
• She gave him a long look. [=she looked at him for many seconds]
• It's been a long day. [=a difficult day in which time seems to go by slowly]
• We took Friday off and went to the coast for a long weekend. [=a weekend with an extra day added to it]
b : lasting or continuing for a specified amount of time
• The movie is three hours long. [=it lasts three hours]
• A day is 24 hours long.
- see also daylong, monthlong, weeklong
3 a : having many pages, items, etc.
• a long book/essay/list
• The team has had a long streak of wins.
b : having a specified number of pages, items, etc.
• The book is 300 pages long.
• The team's winning streak is 12 games long.
4 of clothing : covering all or most of the arms or legs
• a shirt with long sleeves
long pants
• a long skirt
5 sports : going beyond the area of play
• His second serve was long, so he lost the point.
6 linguistics of a vowel
- used to identify certain vowel sounds in English
long and short vowels
• the long “a” in “make”
• the long “e” in “sweet”
• the long “i” in “ice”
• the long “u” in “use”
- compare 1short 8
7 of someone's face : showing sadness
• Why the long face? [=you look sad; why are you sad?]
a long way : a great distance
• He grew up a long way from here.
• Their house is a long way (away) from here.
- often used figuratively in various phrases
• We've done a lot of work, but we have a long way to go. [=we still have a lot of work to do]
• These changes will go a long way toward/towards making the system more efficient. [=these changes will do a lot to make the system more efficient]
• The company has really come a long way [=the company has made a lot of progress] since/from its humble beginnings.
• These problems go back a long way. [=these problems have existed for a long time]
• She and her business partner go back a long way (together). [=she and her business partner have known each other for a long time]
as long as someone's arm informal : very long : having many pages, items, etc.
• I had a list of things to do that was as long as your/my arm.
at long last
- see 5last
how long is a piece of string
- see 1string
long in the tooth
- see tooth
long on : having or providing a good amount of (something)
• He was long on criticism [=he said many critical things] but short on useful advice.
long time no see informal
- used as a greeting for someone you have not seen for a long time
• Well hello there! Long time no see!
not by a long chalk
- see 1chalk
not long for this world
- see 1world
take the long view
- see 1view
the long arm of the law
- see 1arm

short

short [adjective] (DISTANCE)
US /ʃɔːrt/ 
UK /ʃɔːt/ 
Example: 

a short man

someone who is short is not as tall as most people OPP tall

Persian equivalent: 
Example: 

a short man

Persian equivalent: 
Example: 

a short skirt

Oxford Essential Dictionary

short

 adjective (shorter, shortest)

1 a small distance from one end to the other:
Her hair is very short.
We live a short distance from the beach.
 opposite long

2 less tall than most people:
I'm too short to reach the top shelf.
a short fat man
 opposite tall

3 lasting for only a little time:
The film was very short.
a short holiday
 opposite long

be short of something to not have enough of something:
I'm short of money this month.

for short as a short way of saying or writing something:
My sister's name is Deborah, but we call her 'Deb' for short.

short for something a short way of saying or writing something:
'Tom' is short for 'Thomas'.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

short

I. short1 S1 W1 /ʃɔːt $ ʃɔːrt/ BrE AmE 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 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)
• • •
THESAURUS
■ 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

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

short

short [short shorts shorted shorting shorter shortest] adjective, adverb, noun, verb   [ʃɔːt]    [ʃɔːrt] 

 

adjective (short·er, short·est

LENGTH/DISTANCE
1. measuring or covering a small length or distance, or a smaller length or distance than usual
He had short curly hair.
a short walk
• a short skirt

Opp:  long  

HEIGHT

2. (of a person) small in height
• She was short and dumpy.

Opp:  tall  

TIME

3. lasting or taking a small amount of time or less time than usual
I'm going to France for a short break.
Which is the shortest day of the year?
a short book (= taking a short time to read, because it does not have many pages)
She has a very short memory (= remembers only things that have happened recently).
(informal) Life's too short to sit around moping.
It was all over in a relatively short space of time.

Opp:  long

4. only before noun (of a period of time) seeming to have passed very quickly
• Just two short years ago he was the best player in the country.

Opp:  long  

NOT ENOUGH

5. not before noun ~ (of sth) not having enough of sth; lacking sth
I'm afraid I'm a little short (= of money) this month.

• She is not short of excuses when things go wrong.

6. ~ on sth (informal) lacking or not having enough of a particular quality

• He was a big strapping guy but short on brains.

7. not before noun not easily available; not supplying as much as you need

• Money was short at that time.

8. not before noun ~ (of sth) less than the number, amount or distance mentioned or needed
Her last throw was only three centimetres short of the world record.
• The team was five players short.

• She was just short of her 90th birthday when she died.  

OF BREATH

9. ~ of breath having difficulty breathing, for example because of illness

• a fat man, always short of breath  

NAME/WORD

10. ~ for sth being a shorter form of a name or word
• Call me Jo— it's short for Joanna.

• file transfer protocol or FTP for short  

RUDE

11. not before noun ~ (with sb) (of a person) speaking to sb using few words in a way that seems rude

• I'm sorry I was short with you earlier— I had other things on my mind.  

VOWEL

12. (phonetics) a short vowel is pronounced for a shorter time than other vowels
Compare the short vowel in ‘full’ and the long vowel in ‘fool’.
Opp:  long
see also  shortly 
more at draw the short straw at  draw  v., life's too short at  life  n., cut/make a long story short at  long  adj., full/short measure at  measure  n., at short notice at  notice  n., in the long/short/medium term at  term  n., (as) thick as two short planks at  thick  adj.  
Word Origin:
Old English sceort, of Germanic origin; related to shirt  and skirt.  
Thesaurus:
short adj.
1.
He was a short, fat little man.
She ran as fast as her short legs would carry her.
stubbystunted|formal diminutive|approving petite|disapproving dumpy
Opp: tall, Opp: long
a short/diminutive/petite/dumpy woman/figure
a short/diminutive man
short/stubby fingers
2.
Professor Ogawa gave a short talk on solar eclipses.
temporaryshort-livedpassing|especially written brieffleetingmomentary
Opp: long
a short/brief/passing moment
a short/temporary/brief stay
a short/brief/momentary silence/pause
Short or brief? Short is used more in informal and spoken English. Short, but not brief, is used to describe books, lists, projects, etc. that take only a short time. Brief is used more to describe a look, glance, glimpse, smile or sigh.
3. not before noun
When food was short they picked berries in the woods.
scarcein short supplylowlimitedfew and far between
Opp: plentiful
resources are short/scarce/in short supply/low/limited
food is short/scarce/in short supply
time is short/limited
Which word? Short is used especially about time and money. Scarce and in short supply are used about resources that are not generally available. Low is used especially about your supplies when you have not got much left.
4.
She kept her answers short.
briefconciseeconomicalabbreviated|approving succinctpithy|sometimes disapproving terse|usually disapproving curtbrusque
Opp: long
a/an short/brief/concise/abbreviated/succint/terse account
a short/brief/concise/succint/terse summary/answer/statement
Short or brief? A mention is usually brief; an answer is more likely to be short. Brief is used about speech:
Please be brief.
 ¤ Please be short.  
Example Bank:
His performance was woefully short of conviction.
If space is really short, that door can be moved.
It was all over in a relatively short space of time.
Mike was a bit short of cash just then.
Our team was one player short.
Safe drinking water is in desperately short supply.
Sorry I was a bit short with you earlier.
The days are getting shorter and shorter.
The interview was mercifully short.
The working week is getting shorter and shorter.
United looked woefully short of menace in attack.
We're getting short of funds.
a relatively short distance of 50 to 100 miles
a young woman whose life was cut tragically short
Call me Jo— it's short for Joanna.
He felt his time was running short.
He was a short, fat little man.
He was too short to be admitted into the army.
I'm going to France next week for a short break.
I'm slightly shorter than you.
I've only read the shorter version of the report.
It's quite a short book.
Just two short years ago he was the best player in the country.
Life's too short to sit around moping.
Money was pretty short at that time.
She has a very short memory.
Sheila waved her short stubby arms in the air.
The little boy ran as fast as his short legs could carry him.
The short answer to your query is that he has acted completely illegally.
Try to keep your sentences short.
What did he look like? Was he dark or fair? Tall or short?
When food was short they used to pick berries in the woods.
file transfer protocol or FTP for short
Idioms: brick short of a load/two sandwiches short of a picnic  caught short  come short  fall short of something  get the short end of the stick  give get short shrift  have on a short fuse  in short  in short order  in short supply  in the short run  little short of something  make short work of somebody  pull/bring somebody up short  short and sweet  short of something

Derived Word: shortness 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

short / ʃɔːt /   / ʃɔːrt / adjective (DISTANCE)

A1 small in length, distance, or height:

a short skirt

Her hair is much shorter than it used to be.

It's only a short walk to the station.

I'm quite short but my brother's very tall.

B2 describes a name that is used as a shorter form of a name:

Her name's Jo - it's short for Josephine.

Her name's Josephine, or Jo for short.

 

shortness / ˈʃɔːt.nəs /   / ˈʃɔːrt- / noun [ U ]

shortness of time

The disease may cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath (= difficulties in breathing) .
 

short / ʃɔːt /   / ʃɔːrt / adjective (TIME)

A1 being an amount of time that is less than average or usual:

a short film/visit

He's grown so much in such a short time.

I work much better if I take a short break every hour or so.

A2 describes books, letters, and other examples of writing that do not contain many words and do not take much time to read:

It's a very short book - you'll read it in an hour.

 

shortness / ˈʃɔːt.nəs /   / ˈʃɔːrt- / noun [ U ]

shortness of time

The disease may cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath (= difficulties in breathing) .
 

short / ʃɔːt /   / ʃɔːrt / adjective (LACKING)

be short (of sth ) B1 to not have enough of something:

to be short of space/time

We're a bit short of coffee - I must get some more.

The bill comes to £85, but we're £15 short.

I'm a little short (= I do not have much money) this week - could you lend me ten dollars?

short of breath unable to breathe very well, for example because you have been running or doing some type of energetic exercise:

She's always short of breath when she climbs the stairs.

be in short supply to be few or not enough in number:

Computers are in rather short supply in this office.

go short mainly UK to not have something, especially when it is something you need in order to live:

My parents didn't have much money, but they made sure we didn't go short ( of anything).

 

short / ʃɔːt /   / ʃɔːrt / adjective [ after verb ] (NOT PATIENT)

saying little but showing slight impatience or anger in the few words that you say:

I'm sorry if I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning.

 

shortness / ˈʃɔːt.nəs /   / ˈʃɔːrt- / noun [ U ]

shortness of time

The disease may cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath (= difficulties in breathing) .

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

short
I. ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB USES

ɔ:(r)t/

(shorter, shortest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 23 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If something is short or lasts for a short time, it does not last very long.
The announcement was made a short time ago...
How could you do it in such a short period of time?...
Kemp gave a short laugh...
We had a short meeting.
long
ADJ
2.
If you talk about a short hour, day, or year, you mean that it seems to have passed very quickly or will seem to pass very quickly.
For a few short weeks there was peace...
long
ADJ: usu ADJ n
3.
A short speech, letter, or book does not have many words or pages in it.
They were performing a short extract from Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona...
long
ADJ: usu ADJ n
4.
Someone who is short is not as tall as most people are.
I’m tall and thin and he’s short and fat.
...a short, elderly woman with grey hair...
tall
ADJ
5.
Something that is short measures only a small amount from one end to the other.
The city centre and shops are only a short distance away...
His black hair was very short.
long
ADJ
6.
If you are short of something or if it is short, you do not have enough of it. If you are running short of something or if it is running short, you do not have much of it left.
Her father’s illness left the family short of money...
Supplies of everything are unreliable, food is short...
ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ of n
7.
If someone or something is or stops short of a place, they have not quite reached it. If they are or fall short of an amount, they have not quite achieved it.
He stopped a hundred yards short of the building...
ADJ: v-link ADJ of n
8.
Short of a particular thing means except for that thing or without actually doing that thing.
Short of climbing railings four metres high, there was no way into the garden from this road...
PREP-PHRASE: PREP n/-ing
9.
If something is cut short or stops short, it is stopped before people expect it to or before it has finished.
His glittering career was cut short by a heart attack...
ADV: ADV after v
10.
If a name or abbreviation is short for another name, it is the short version of that name.
Her friend Kes (short for Kesewa) was in tears...
‘O.O.B.E.’ is short for ‘Out Of Body Experience’.
ADJ: v-link ADJ for n
11.
If you have a short temper, you get angry very easily.
...an awkward, self-conscious woman with a short temper.
ADJ
see also short-tempered
12.
If you are short with someone, you speak briefly and rather rudely to them, because you are impatient or angry.
She seemed nervous or tense, and she was definitely short with me.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n
13.
If a person or thing is called something for short, that is the short version of their name.
Opposite me was a woman called Jasminder (Jazzy for short)...
PHRASE: usu n PHR
14.
If you go short of something, especially food, you do not have as much of it as you want or need.
Some people may manage their finances badly and therefore have to go short of essentials.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR of n
15.
You use in short when you have been giving a lot of details and you want to give a conclusion or summary.
Try tennis, badminton or windsurfing. In short, anything challenging...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
16.
You use nothing short of or little short of to emphasize how great or extreme something is. For example, if you say that something is nothing short of a miracle or nothing short of disastrous, you are emphasizing that it is a miracle or it is disastrous.
The results are nothing short of magnificent...
PHRASE: v-link PHR adj/n [emphasis]
17.
If you say that someone is, for example, several cards short of a full deck or one sandwich short of a picnic, you think they are stupid, foolish, or crazy. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: v-link PHR
18.
If someone or something is short on a particular good quality, they do not have as much of it as you think they should have.
The proposals were short on detail.
PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval]
19.
If someone stops short of doing something, they come close to doing it but do not actually do it.
He stopped short of explicitly criticizing the government...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing/n
20.
If workers are put on short time, they are asked to work fewer hours than the normal working week, because their employer can not afford to pay them a full time wage.
Workers across the country have been put on short time because of the slump in demand...
Most manufacturers have had to introduce short-time working.
PHRASE: on PHR, PHR n
21.
If something pulls you up short or brings you up short, it makes you suddenly stop what you are doing.
The name on the gate pulled me up short.
PHRASE: V inflects
22.
If you make short work of someone or something, you deal with them or defeat them very quickly. (INFORMAL)
Agassi made short work of his opponent.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
23.
short of breath: see breath
at short notice: see notice
to sell someone short: see sell
to get short shrift: see shrift
to cut a long story short: see story
to draw the short straw: see straw
in short supply: see supply
in the short term: see term

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1short /ˈʃoɚt/ adj short·er; -est
1 a : extending a small distance from one end to the other end : having little length : not long
• Her hair is short. = She has short hair.
• It's just a short distance from here. = It's just a short distance away.
• the shortest rope
• One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other.
• The coat is short on him. = The coat is too short for him. [=the coat should be longer in order to fit him correctly]
b : not great in distance
• a short walk/drive/trip
• This way is shorter.
c : having little height : not tall
• He is short for his age.
• a short girl
2 a : lasting or continuing for a small amount of time : brief
• a short delay/vacation/speech
• the shortest day of the year
• Life's too short to worry about the past.
• The movie/meeting was very short.
• You have done a lot in a short space/period of time.
• a short burst of speed
• I've only lived here for a short time/while.
• It's just a short walk from here. [=you can walk there from here in a few minutes]
• She has a very short memory. [=she forgets about events, conversations, etc., soon after they happen]
b always used before a noun : seeming to pass quickly
• She has made great progress in a few short years.
• He visited for two short weeks.
3 : having few pages, items, etc.
• a short book/poem
• I have a list of things I need to do before we go, but it's pretty short.
short sentences
4 of clothing : covering only part of the arms or legs
• boys in short pants
• a shirt with short sleeves [=sleeves that end at or above the elbows]
• a short skirt [=a skirt that ends above the knees and especially several inches above the knees]
5 a : existing in less than the usual or needed amount
• We should hurry. Time is short. [=we don't have much time]
• Money has been short lately. [=I haven't had enough money lately]
• Gasoline is in short supply. [=little gasoline is available]
• (US) We can be ready on short notice. = (Brit) We can be ready at short notice. [=very quickly]
• (US) Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. = (Brit) Thank you for meeting with me at such short notice. [=even though you did not know that I wanted to meet with you until a short time ago]
b not used before a noun : having less than what is needed : not having enough of something
• I can't pay the bill. I'm a little short (of money). [=I don't have enough money]
• The team was short (by) two players. = The team was two players short.
- often + on
short on time/food/money
• She's a little short on patience today. [=she is feeling somewhat impatient]
• He's not short on self-confidence. [=he has plenty of self-confidence]
• He was long on criticism but short on useful advice. [=he was very critical but did not give any useful advice]
c : less than - used in the phrase nothing short of to give emphasis to a statement or description
• His recovery is nothing short of a miracle. = His recovery is nothing short of miraculous. [=his recovery is a miracle; his recovery is miraculous]
d : not reaching far enough
• The throw to first base was short.
• a short throw
6 : made smaller by having part removed
• a short tax form
- often + for
• “Doc” is short for “doctor.”
• “Ben” is short for “Benjamin.”
• “www” is short for “World Wide Web.”
7 not used before a noun : talking to someone in a very brief and unfriendly way : rudely brief
• I'm sorry I was short [=abrupt, curt] with you.
8 linguistics of a vowel
- used to identify certain vowel sounds in English
• long and short vowels
• the short “a” in “bad”
• the short “e” in “bet”
• the short “i” in “sit”
• the short “o” in “hot”
• the short “u” in “but”
- compare 1long 6
a short fuse
- see 2fuse
draw the short straw
- see 1draw
fall short
- see 1fall
in short order : quickly and without delay
In short order the group set up camp.
• The papers were organized in short order.
make short work of
- see 2work
short and sweet : pleasantly brief : not lasting a long time or requiring a lot of time
• That's the way we like the meetings—short and sweet.
• I've got a few announcements, but I'll keep it short and sweet. [=I will talk for only a few minutes]
short of breath
✦If you are short of breath, it is difficult for you to breathe.
• He is overweight and gets short of breath [=out of breath] just walking to his car.
• She was short of breath and unable to talk after her run.
the short end of the stick
- see 1stick
- short·ness /ˈʃoɚtnəs/ noun [noncount]
• I was surprised by the shortness of the meeting.
• One symptom is shortness of breath.

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