Crossword Genius

Reticent about trees (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

terse

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'reticent' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'about trees' is the wordplay.
'about' is an anagram indicator.
'trees' with letters rearranged gives 'TERSE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for terse that I've seen before include "Sparing with words; abrupt" , "Curt, concise" , "Brusque and curt" , "Sententious" , "Reset to be pithy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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