Cut short talk (3)
I believe the answer is:
gas
'talk' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cut short' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'gash' (gash is a kind of cut).
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'gash' with its last letter removed is 'GAS'.
(Other definitions for gas that I've seen before include "State of matter not solid or liquid" , "Something that is neither solid not liquid" , "THIRD PART OF 23" , "Carbon dioxide, say" , "Possibly noble" .)