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2 N‑UNCOUNT Shortcake is a cake or dessert which consists of a crisp cake with layers of fruit and cream. [mainly AM ] □  …desserts like strawberry shortcake.

sho rt-cha nge (short-changes , short-changing , short-changed )

1 VERB If someone short-changes you, they do not give you enough change after you have bought something from them. □ [V n] The cashier made a mistake and short-changed him.

2 VERB [usu passive] If you are short-changed , you are treated unfairly or dishonestly, often because you are given less of something than you deserve. □ [be V -ed] Women are in fact still being short-changed in the press.

sho rt-ci rcuit (short-circuits , short-circuiting , short-circuited )

1 VERB If an electrical device short-circuits or if someone or something short-circuits it, a wrong connection or damaged wire causes electricity to travel along the wrong route and damage the device. □ [V ] Carbon dust and oil build up in large motors and cause them to short-circuit. □ [V n] Once inside they short-circuited the electronic security. ● N‑COUNT Short-circuit is also a noun. □  The fire was started by an electrical short-circuit.

2 VERB If someone or something short-circuits a process or system, they avoid long or difficult parts of it and use a quicker, more direct method to achieve their aim. □ [V n] The approach was intended to short-circuit normal complaints procedures.

short|coming /ʃɔː ^r tkʌm I ŋ/ (shortcomings ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft with poss] Someone's or something's shortcomings are the faults or weaknesses which they have. □ [+ of ] Marriages usually break down as a result of the shortcomings of both partners.

short|crust /ʃɔː ^r tkrʌst/ ADJ [ADJ n] Shortcrust pastry is a kind of pastry that is used to make pies and tarts. [BRIT ]

sho rt cu t (short cuts ) also short-cut , shortcut

1 N‑COUNT A short cut is a quicker way of getting somewhere than the usual route. □  I tried to take a short cut and got lost.

2 N‑COUNT A short cut is a method of achieving something more quickly or more easily than if you use the usual methods. □ [+ to ] Fame can be a shortcut to love and money.

3 N‑COUNT On a computer, a shortcut is an icon on the desktop that allows you to go immediately to a program, document and so on. [COMPUTING ] □  …ways to move or copy icons or create shortcuts in Windows.

4 N‑COUNT On a computer, a shortcut is a keystroke or a combination of keystrokes that allows you to give commands without using the mouse. [COMPUTING ] □  …a handy keyboard shortcut that takes you to the top of the screen.

short|en /ʃɔː ^r t ^ə n/ (shortens , shortening , shortened )

1 VERB If you shorten an event or the length of time that something lasts, or if it shortens , it does not last as long as it would otherwise do or as it used to do. □ [V n] Smoking can shorten your life. □ [V ] When the days shorten in winter some people suffer depression.

2 VERB If you shorten an object or if it shortens , it becomes smaller in length. □ [V n] Her father paid £1,000 for an operation to shorten her nose. □ [V ] As they shorten, cells become more prone to disease and death.

3 VERB If you shorten a name or other word, you change it by removing some of the letters. □ [V n] Originally called Lili, she eventually shortened her name to Lee.

4to shorten the odds → see odds

short|en|ing /ʃɔː ^r tn I ŋ/ (shortenings ) N‑VAR Shortening is cooking fat that you use with flour in order to make pastry or dough. [mainly AM ]