Showing Results for "abbreviated"

See Also:

• past participle of abbreviate.
• past tense form of abbreviate.

abbreviated

American  

[uh-bree-vee-ey-tid] / əˈbri viˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. shortened; made briefer.

   The rain led to an abbreviated picnic.

2. (of clothing) scanty; barely covering the body.

   an abbreviated bathing suit.

3. constituting a shorter or smaller version of.

   The large car was an abbreviated limousine.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unabbreviated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of abbreviated

First recorded in 1545–55; abbreviate + -ed ²

Explanation

Something that's abbreviated is shortened or condensed. An abbreviated version of your favorite novel might be a quick read, but ultimately kind of disappointing. If you have to take an abbreviated vacation, you might need to leave Hawaii after a few days instead of staying for two weeks. On the other hand, if your boss at work gives you an abbreviated version of her usual lecture, you'll be able to go home a little earlier. The adjective abbreviated and the verb abbreviate both come from the noun abbreviation, with its Latin root, abbreviare, "make brief," from ad-, "to," and breviare, "shorten."

Related Words

• brief
• crisp
• precise
• shortened
• terse