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 : polished
2 : devoid of superfluity <a terse summary>; also : short, brusque <dismissed me with a terse “no”>

synonyms see concise

— terse·ly adverb

— terse·ness noun