present participle of take a long walk off a short pier

A lack or deficiency; an insufficient amount.

A path between two points that is faster than the commonly used paths. / A method to accomplish something that omits one or more steps.

To take or use a shortcut

(US, cooking) Fat that is solid at room temperature, such as margarine or lard (not usually used of butter), used to make shortcrust pastry.

present participle of shorten

deficiency

In a short or brief time or manner; quickly. / In or after a short time; soon. / In few words / In an irritable ("short") manner.

A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc. / (by extension) Any brief or shortened way of saying or doing something.

(transitive) To render (spoken or written words) into shorthand. / (transitive, by extension) To use a brief or shortened way of saying or doing something. / (intransitive) To write in shorthand.