shortenings
|short-en-ings|
🇺🇸
/ˈʃɔrtənɪŋz/
🇬🇧
/ˈʃɔːtənɪŋz/
(shortening)
make short
Etymology
'shortening' originates from English, specifically from the adjective 'short' combined with the verb-forming suffix '-en' and the noun-forming suffix '-ing'.
'shortening' changed from Middle English forms built on 'shorten' (from Old English elements) and eventually became the modern English noun 'shortening' (and its plural 'shortenings').
Initially it meant 'the act of making short' or 'to make short'; over time one noun sense came to name the substance (fat) used to make pastry 'short' (i.e. crumbly), so 'shortening' also came to mean that edible fat.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'shortening': acts or processes of making something shorter; reductions or cuttings.
The shortenings of the agendas helped keep the conference on time.
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Noun 2
types or varieties of 'shortening' (the culinary fat used in baking to produce a crumbly or flaky texture).
Different shortenings are sold for pie crusts and pastries.
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Noun 3
abbreviations or contracted forms of words or phrases (i.e., shortenings used in writing or speech).
Writers often use shortenings such as 'approx.' or 'w/' in notes.
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Last updated: 2026/01/02 19:59