curt Hear it!

curt Definition

curt (kʉrt)

adjective

  1. Archaic short or shortened
  2. brief, esp. to the point of rudeness; terse or brusque a curt reply

Etymology: L curtus: see short

curt Related Forms

curtly adverb curt·ness noun

curt Synonyms

curt

modif.

brief, terse, uncivil, snippy*; see abrupt 2, terse. See syn. study at blunt.

curt Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • reply: Back came the curt reply: Bennett wasn't interested.
  • response: His curt response was met with a round of applause from animal dealers and vested interest groups in the audience.
  • message: For a minute I stood there with the paper in my hands thinking out the meaning of this curt message.
  • nod: I had planned to give him a curt nod and then check my computer to see if he had sent me an email.
  • dismissal: My plea was met with a curt dismissal, " NO!
  • note: They left a curt note attached to my pitch card.

Modifying Another Word

  • rather: Upon my return, I sent a rather curt e-mail of complaint to the company involved.
  • little: The lady on the desk was a little curt, but not offensively so, probably just her way!
  • very: The very curt man on the line said ' No, not now, call back in five minutes ' .
  • too: Indeed, in some places it is almost too spare and too curt in its bald simplicity.

Browse dictionary entries near curt

  1. cursory
  2. cursorial
  3. cursor
  4. cursive
  5. cursed
  6. curse
  7. currycomb
  8. curry powder
  9. curry
  10. currish
  1. curtail
  2. curtailment
  3. curtain
  4. curtain call
  5. curtain lecture
  6. curtain raiser
  7. curtain speech
  8. curtain wall
  9. curtal
  10. curtal ax