short cir·cuit • n. in a device, an electrical circuit of lower resistance than that of a normal circuit, typically resulting from the unintended contact of components and consequent accidental diversion of the current.• v. (short-cir·cuit) (with reference to an electrical device) malfunction or fail, or cause to do this, as a result of a short circuit across it: [intr.] the birds caused the electricity supply to short-circuit | [tr.] water had leaked into the washing machine's motor, short-circuiting it. ∎  [tr.] fig. shorten (a process or activity) by using a more direct (but often improper) method: the normal processes of a democracy should not be short-circuited.

Short Circuit ★★ 1986 (PG)

A newly developed robot designed for the military is hit by lightning and begins to think it's alive. Sheedy and Guttenberg help it hide from the mean people at the weapons lab who want to take it home. Followed two years later, save Sheedy and Guttenberg, by the lame “Short Circuit 2.” 98m/C VHS, DVD, UMD . Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy, Austin Pendleton, Fisher Stevens, Brian McNamara; D: John Badham; W: S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock; C: Nick McLean; M: David Shire.

short circuit (ser-kit) n. see anastomosis.