noun / verb
short
an electrical fault in which current takes an unintended path
Damaged insulation causes a short in the circuit.
Etymology
Short abbreviates short circuit. The fault creates a shorter or unintended conducting route, allowing current to bypass the designed path.
More examples
- The exposed wires short when they touch.
- An electrician locates the short behind the outlet.
- The wet cable shorted and tripped the breaker.
Forms
short · shorts · shorted · shorting