Main Entry:

terse

Pronunciation:

\ˈtərs\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

ters·er; ters·est

Etymology:

Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to wipe off

Date:

1601

1: smoothly elegant : polished2: devoid of superfluity <a terse summary> ; also : short, brusque <dismissed me with a terse “no”>

synonyms see concise

— terse·ly adverb

— terse·ness noun