Shorts

/ʃɔrts/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A type of clothing worn on the lower part of the body that extends from the waist to above the knees, typically made of cotton or other lightweight materials.

He wore a pair of denim shorts to the beach.

Short trousers or pants, commonly worn in warm weather.

For the summer festival, she chose to wear colorful shorts.

Casual or sportswear that is designed for comfort and mobility.

The basketball player wore athletic shorts during practice.

verb

To short-circuit or bypass; to cut short.

The technician had to shorts the wires to complete the repair.

Etymology

Shorts is a contraction of 'short trousers', originating in the early 20th century.

Common Phrases and Expressions

cutoffs

A pair of shorts made by cutting off the legs of trousers.

cargo shorts

Shorts with large pockets on the sides for carrying items.

Related Words

pants

Full-length trousers that cover the legs.

skorts

A combination of shorts and a skirt.

bloomers

Loose-fitting undergarments that are gathered at the knee.

Slang Meanings

Shorts worn during summer activities.

I'm rocking my summer shorts at the barbecue.

To refer to financial shorts.

He's got some heavy shorts on that stock.