(electrical engineering) A usually unintentional connection of low resistance or impedance in a circuit such that excessive and often damaging current flows in it.

(transitive) To cause a short circuit in. / (transitive, by extension) To force termination of an ongoing process before its natural conclusion, by bypassing one or more intermediary steps.

A genre of popular fiction in which characters with an affluent lifestyle have frequent explicit sexual encounters.

(chiefly Britain) A regime intended to deter crime by making an immediate severe impact.

(slang) A deliberately offensive or provocative talk show host.

Concentration on obtaining immediate profit at the expense of long-term security.

(idiomatic, cricket) of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.

(cricket) A fielding position on the leg side, square of, and close to the batsman. / (cricket) A fielder in this position.

(metallurgy) Of metal: brittle at high temperatures.

(metallurgy) Of metal: brittle at low temperatures.