abbreviate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.
-
to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer.
to abbreviate a speech.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to shorten (a word or phrase) by contraction or omission of some letters or words
-
to shorten (a speech or piece of writing) by omitting sections, paraphrasing, etc
-
to cut short
Related Words
See shorten.
Other Word Forms
- abbreviator noun
Etymology
Origin of abbreviate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbreviātus shortened (past participle of abbreviāre ), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + breviātus ( brevi(s) “short“ + -ātus -ate 1 )
Explanation
To abbreviate is to shorten. Words are often abbreviated, like when we say sked instead of schedule. Though we most often think about words being abbreviated — especially terms like OMG and LOL for "oh my God" and "laugh out loud" — lots of things can be abbreviated. You just have to shorten them. Sudden rain might abbreviate a baseball game. A bomb threat would abbreviate a school day. Anytime something is being shortened or cut, abbreviation is going on.
Vocabulary lists containing abbreviate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Word Generation Science - Measurement
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Kindred
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The strands consist of almost endless rows of four small molecules that we abbreviate to A, C, G and T.
From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2024
Meant to show strength and independence, Alzona’s sculptures abbreviate women’s bodies to such active parts as a torso or a pair of ankles and feet.
From Washington Post • Jul. 1, 2022
Travelers in the know choose from multiple ways to abbreviate TSA line wait time.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 26, 2022
“We also need to abbreviate his dialogue a bit so that there are no monologues, etc.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2022
“O for the P,” as Farmer would eventually abbreviate the term, was a simple concept.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
