1. The property of being of short spatial extent
   "the shortness of the Channel crossing"
    
2. The property of being of short temporal extent
   "the shortness of air travel time"
    
3. The property of being truncated or short
   "The shortness of the skirt was inappropriate for the formal event";
   - truncation
    
4. The property of being shorter than average stature
   "Her shortness made it difficult to reach items on high shelves"
    
5. The condition of being short of something
   "there was no shortness of money"; "can cause shortness of breath"
    
6. An abrupt discourteous manner
   "Her shortness with the new employee was noticed by everyone";
   - abruptness, brusqueness, curtness, gruffness

Type of: deficiency, discourtesy, duration, height, lack, length, lowness, rudeness, stature, want

Antonym: longness, tallness

Encyclopedia: Shortness