adj.
Pronunciation: ' t ə rs
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: ters · er ; ters · est
Etymology: Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of terg ē re to wipe off
Date: 1601
1 : smoothly elegant : POLISHED
2 : devoid of superfluity <a terse summary> also : SHORT , BRUSQUE <dismissed me with a terse “ no ” >
synonyms see CONCISE
– terse · ly adverb
– terse · ness noun