terse /tɜːs/ a. 1. (讲话、文笔等)简要的,简洁的,简练的;(人)讲话(或写作)简洁的 a terse statement 简要的陈述 a terse writer 行文简洁的作者 2. 简短生硬的,唐突草率的 She was terse in her answer. 她回答得简短生硬。 When cornered by the press, he muttered a terse “No comment”. 当他被记者逼问得走投无路时,便咕噜一声“无可奉告”草草过场。 [<L tersus precise, clean-cut < tergēre to polish, rub, wipe]