short-circuit

verb

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short-cir·cuit | \ ˈshȯrt-ˈsər-kət

short-circuited; short-circuiting; short-circuits

Definition of short-circuit

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to apply a short circuit to or establish a short circuit in

2 : bypass sense 2

3 : frustrate, impede

intransitive verb

: to become shunted by a short circuit The radio short-circuited.

short circuit

noun

Definition of short circuit (Entry 2 of 2)

: a connection of comparatively low resistance accidentally or intentionally made between points on a circuit between which the resistance is normally much greater

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about short-circuit

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Examples of short-circuit in a Sentence

Noun The fire was caused by a short circuit.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The company says corrosion can cause a short circuit in defective anti-lock brake circuit boards that can cause a fire even if engines are off. — Tom Krisher, Star Tribune, "Hyundai warns owners to park outside, recalls 180,000 SUVs," 11 Sep. 2020 The report also criticizes what the environmental organizations say is a push by the industry to advance renewable natural gas and laws and ballot measures as a way to short circuit the use of electricity to power buildings. — Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, "Natural gas as clean energy choice, efforts to short circuit electrifying buildings criticized by new report," 14 July 2020 The possibility of a short circuit in the capsule further threatened the crew’s chances of returning safely to Earth. — Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, "Fifty Years Ago, the Crew of the Damaged Apollo 13 Came Home," 8 Apr. 2020 The fire was caused by short circuit, New Delhi Television reported. — Washington Post, "Live updates: Trump says he may act alone if Congress can’t reach deal on new coronavirus stimulus package," 6 Aug. 2020 But the good news for public health is that there are ways to short circuit these psychological processes and shift culture to broaden support for prevention. — Nat Kendall-taylor, STAT, "Why were we so late responding to Covid-19? Blame it on our culture and brains," 6 July 2020 Unless those massive bullets are delivered directly into or near enough to a large anima’s central nervous system to short circuit the electricity, Black Death is going to keep on coming. — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, "There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Stopping Rifle’," 3 July 2020 Last month, a fire believed to be caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in New Delhi, killing at least 43 people. — Washington Post, "Battery factory collapses in fire in New Delhi, killing 1," 2 Jan. 2020 Aircraft wiring was suspected to have triggered several major accidents in recent decades and regulators have taken scores of actions to guard against short circuit and other failures. — Alan Levin, Bloomberg.com, "Boeing Argues It Doesn’t Need to Move 737 Max Wiring Bundles," 8 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'short-circuit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.