Definition of abbreviate

< abbr.

abbreviation >

ab·bre·vi·ate    (-brv-t) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing, ab·bre·vi·ates

1. To make shorter. See Synonyms at shorten.
2. To reduce (a word or phrase) to a shorter form intended to represent the full form.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbrevire, abbrevit- : ad-, ad- + brevire, to shorten (from brevis, short; see mregh-u- in Indo-European roots)

OTHER FORMS:
ab·brevi·ator(Noun)