Word
Definitions
01clothing
A1 · Beginner Plural noun
n. trousers that end above the knees, usually worn in hot weather or for sports.
n. a bifurcated garment covering the pelvic area and upper legs but ending above the knee. Usually plural in form.
“He wore a t-shirt and blue shorts because it was a very hot day.”
“The hikers opted for lightweight cargo shorts to ensure maximum ventilation during the steep ascent in the midday heat.”
Usage
Always used in the plural form; takes a plural verb.
Pitfall
I need to buy a new short for the beach.
I need to buy a new pair of shorts for the beach.
Like 'trousers' or 'glasses', 'shorts' is always plural. Use 'a pair of' to count them.
Synonyms
02electrical fault
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Technology Informal · Technical
n. short circuits, which are electrical problems that stop a machine from working.
n. informal clipped form of 'short circuits'; instances of accidental low-resistance connections between nodes in an electrical circuit.
“The old wiring in the house was causing frequent shorts in the kitchen.”
“The technician suspected that moisture ingress was responsible for the intermittent shorts occurring within the control panel.”
Usage
Often used by electricians or engineers in plural form.
Teaching tip
This is a very specific technical use; students should generally use the full term 'short circuit' in formal writing.
Synonyms
03causing a fault
B2 · Upper Intermediate Technology Technical
v. to cause an electrical problem by mistake.
v. to cause a short circuit in an electrical device or system. Transitive or intransitive use.
“If water gets into the computer, it often shorts the whole system.”
“The system automatically shuts down whenever the power supply shorts to prevent permanent damage to the motherboard.”
Usage
The third-person singular form is 'shorts'.
Synonyms
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der.? Proto-Germanic *skertaną Proto-Germanic *skurtaz Proto-West Germanic *skurt Old English sċort Middle English schort English short Old English -as Middle English -es English -s English shorts From short + -s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shorts
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0