short-day

[ shawrt-dey ]

/ ˈʃɔrtˈdeɪ /

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adjective Botany.

requiring a short photoperiod.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of short-day

First recorded in 1915–20

Words nearby short-day

short corner, short covering, shortcrust pastry, shortcut, short-dated, short-day, short-day plant, short division, short-eared owl, shorten, shortened form

How to use short-day in a sentence

The short day was passing from fields and sky; already the tops of the leafless trees mingled with the grey of evening.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XXVII, January 1904, No. 157|Various
The short day came to a close and tea-time found the barque rolling her lower yard-arms into the tremendous swells.
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
The short day ended by a little gymnasium practice but all the girls were rather nervous over the affair.
The Girls at Mount Morris|Amanda Minnie Douglas
He outwalked the short day, and was on the towing-path by the river, somewhat footsore, when the night closed in.
Our Mutual Friend|Charles Dickens

The short day was closing, and already a young moon glimmered on the floods.
Wandering Heath|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

British Dictionary definitions for short-day

short-day

adjective

(of plants) able to flower only if exposed to short periods of daylight (less than 12 hours), each followed by a long dark periodCompare long-day

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012