Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - short-circuit

(short-circuits, short-circuiting, short-circuited) 1. If an electrical device short-circuits or if someone or something short-circuits it, a wrong connection or damaged wire causes electricity to travel along the wrong route and damage the device. Carbon dust and oil build up in large motors and cause them to short-circuit... Once inside they short-circuited the electronic security. VERB: V, V n • Short-circuit is also a noun. The fire was started by an electrical short-circuit. N-COUNT 2. If someone or something short-circuits a process or system, they avoid long or difficult parts of it and use a quicker, more direct method to achieve their aim. The approach was intended to short-circuit normal complaints procedures. VERB: V n