CURT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does curt mean? 

• CURT (adjective)
  The adjective CURT has 2 senses:

1. marked by rude or peremptory shortness

2. brief and to the point; effectively cut short

  Familiarity information: CURT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURT (adjective)

Comparative: curter   
Superlative: curtest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Marked by rude or peremptory shortness

Synonyms:

brusk; brusque; curt; short

Context example:

the salesgirl was very short with him

Similar:

discourteous (showing no courtesy; rude)

Derivation:

curtness (an abrupt discourteous manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Brief and to the point; effectively cut short

Synonyms:

crisp; curt; laconic; terse

Context example:

short and terse and easy to understand

Similar:

concise (expressing much in few words)

 Context examples 

In front stood the bow-men, ten deep, with a fringe of under-officers, who paced hither and thither marshalling the ranks with curt precept or short rebuke.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

THE curt announcement was followed by a moment of silent surprise, and then by a general shout of laughter.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two days later—that is, on Wednesday last—there is a curt announcement that the wedding had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Backwater’s place, near Petersfield.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Sherlock Holmes listened with attention to the long report which I was able to present to him that evening, but it did not elicit that word of curt praise which I had hoped for and should have valued.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The younger archers, with their coats of mail thrown aside, their brown or flaxen hair tossing in the wind, and their jerkins turned back to give free play to their brawny chests and arms, stood in lines, each loosing his shaft in turn, while Johnston, Aylward, Black Simon, and half-a-score of the elders lounged up and down with critical eyes, and a word of rough praise or of curt censure for the marksmen.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)