Terse/tɜːrs/ Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Emotionally Cold Terse language can sound unfriendly or curt, as it lacks warmth or detail. Her terse 'thanks' seemed cold. Pro Tip 2/3Efficiency in Text In written communication, being terse can make messages quicker to read and write. Emails are often kept terse for efficiency. Pro Tip 3/3Professional Tone A terse style is often used in formal and professional settings for clarity. Her performance review was terse but informative.