English Explanatory Dictionary

terse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point.
  2. Of manner or speech: abruptly or brusquely short; curt.
  3. Burnished, polished; fine, smooth; neat, spruce.

Pronunciation

/tɜːs/ /tɝːs/ en-au-terse.ogg

Word forms

terse terser tersest

Etymology

From Latin tersus (“clean, cleansed, rubbed or wiped off; neat, spruce; terse”), perfect passive participle of Latin tergeō, tergō (“to clean, cleanse, rub, wipe, wipe off”).

Synonyms

concise succinct brief crisp laconic lapidary short-winded tight to the point taut terse abrupt brusque mardy short-spoken

Antonyms

prolix verbose wordy circumlocutory diffuse periphrastic palaverous pleonastic rigmarole sesquipedalian

Derived words

tersely terseness
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