short-circuit

verb short-cir·cuit \ ˈshȯrt-ˈsər-kət \

|Updated on: 30 May 2018

Examples: short-circuit in a Sentence

Definition of short-circuit

short-circuited; short-circuiting; short-circuits

transitive verb

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

2 : bypass 2

3 : frustrate, impede

intransitive verb

: to become shunted by a short circuit

The radio short-circuited.

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First Known Use of short-circuit

1867

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

short circuit

noun

Definition of short circuit

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

See short circuit defined for English-language learners

See short circuit defined for kids

Examples of short circuit in a Sentence

The fire was caused by a short circuit.

Recent Examples of short circuit from the Web

The company found that a short circuit may trigger when drivers accelerate the vehicle under cruise control, which may be necessary to maintain speed while driving up a hill.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "Fiat Chrysler Recalls 4.8 Million Vehicles That Can Get Stuck in Cruise Control," 25 May 2018
Others were due to possible seat-belt failures from incorrect bolts and potential short circuits in wiring.

— Fortune, "Porsche's $1.7 Million 918 Spyder Is Recalled Again," 19 May 2018
The short circuit that caused the fire happened at a plug where a television, a microwave and a refrigerator were all connected, the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo quoted Public Security Secretary Magino Alves as saying.

— Washington Post, "Fire in Sao Paulo squat shines light on housing shortage," 8 May 2018
The short circuit that caused the fire happened at a plug where a television, a microwave and a refrigerator were all connected, the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo quoted Public Security Secretary Magino Alves as saying.

— sarah dilorenzo, Fox News, "Fire in Sao Paulo squat shines light on housing shortage," 8 May 2018
And so impeachment, in a way, would short circuit that.

— time staff, Time, "Read the Full Transcript From James Comey's ABC Interview," 17 Apr. 2018
Car and Driver is reporting that Hyundai has expanded a recall issued in February for Sonatas, increasing it to more than a half-million, due to the risk that a short circuit could keep the air bag from deploying.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Hyundai adds 425,000 Sonatas to recall for air bag risk," 27 Apr. 2018
And so impeachment, in a way, would short circuit that.

— time staff, Time, "Read the Full Transcript From James Comey's ABC Interview," 17 Apr. 2018
Hyundai says the air bag control unit could short circuit, preventing the front air bags, seat belt pretensioners and side air bags from deploying.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Hyundai adds 425,000 Sonatas to recall for air bag risk," 27 Apr. 2018

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.