noun
Common
shorter
SHAW-tuh
Shorter (noun) means a comparative form of short; also, someone who engages in short selling. Example: “A shorter in the market profits when the price of a share falls.”
noun
1
A comparative form of short; also, someone who engages in short selling.
"A shorter in the market profits when the price of a share falls."
"The company is smaller and shorter than its rival, both in staff and history."
"Shorters were betting heavily against the stock before the crash."
How to use shorter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe comparative of "short" — more short than something else; in finance, one who shorts stocks.
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Word forms
- Plural
- shorters
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A _____ in the market profits when the price of a share falls.
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Rhymes for shorter
See all rhymes for shorter →Frequently asked questions
What does “shorter” mean?
The word “shorter” means a comparative form of short; also, someone who engages in short selling. In plain terms, the comparative of "short" — more short than something else; in finance, one who shorts stocks.
How do you pronounce “shorter”?
“Shorter” is pronounced SHAW-tuh (/ˈʃɔɹtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shorter” in a sentence?
Here is “shorter” used in a sentence: “The company is smaller and shorter than its rival, both in staff and history.”
What part of speech is “shorter”?
“Shorter” is a noun.
Is “shorter” a common word?
“Shorter” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between shorter and short?
Short is the base adjective, while shorter is its comparative form, used to say one thing is less long, tall, or brief than another, as in 'this route is shorter'.
When do you use 'shorter' instead of 'more short'?
Because short is a one-syllable adjective, its comparative is formed by adding -er, giving 'shorter'; 'more short' is incorrect. English uses -er for most short adjectives and 'more' for longer ones.
What is the superlative form of 'shorter'?
The comparative is 'shorter' and the superlative is 'shortest'. Use shorter to compare two things and shortest to identify the least long or tall among three or more.
Can 'shorter' refer to a person in finance?
Yes. Besides being the comparative of short, a shorter can mean someone who engages in short selling — betting that an asset's price will fall. This meaning is unrelated to the comparative adjective.
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