: being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel that was short in duration but is no longer so and that does not necessarily have duration as its chief distinguishing feature The adjective short describes things that aren't long when you measure them, or have a small distance from one end to another, like your short hair or the short walk to the library. If something is short or lasts for a short time, it does not last very long. The announcement was made a short time ago.

Understanding the Context

Kemp gave a short laugh.