Abbreviate: meaning, definitions and examples
✂️
abbreviate
[ əˈbriː.vi.eɪt ]
in writing
To shorten a word or phrase by omitting letters or sounds.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Please abbreviate the word 'abbreviation' to 'abbrev.'
- The company name was abbreviated to just 'IBM'.
in formal writing
To shorten a word or phrase by using the initial letters or syllables.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The United States of America is often abbreviated as 'USA'.
- The Latin phrase 'et cetera' can be abbreviated as 'etc.'.
linguistics
A shortened form of a word or phrase.
Synonyms
acronym, initialism, short form
Examples of usage
- 'Dr.' is an abbreviation for 'Doctor'.
- 'ASAP' is an abbreviation for 'as soon as possible'.
Translations
Translations of the word "abbreviate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 abreviar
🇮🇳 संक्षिप्त करना
🇩🇪 abkürzen
🇮🇩 mempersingkat
🇺🇦 скорочувати
🇵🇱 skracać
🇯🇵 省略する (しょうりゃくする)
🇫🇷 abréger
🇪🇸 abreviar
🇹🇷 kısaltmak
🇰🇷 줄이다
🇸🇦 اختصر
🇨🇿 zkrátit
🇸🇰 skrátiť
🇨🇳 缩写 (suōxiě)
🇸🇮 skrajšati
🇮🇸 stytta
🇰🇿 қысқарту
🇬🇪 შემოკლება
🇦🇿 qısaltmaq
🇲🇽 abreviar
Word origin
The word 'abbreviate' comes from the Latin word 'abbreviatus', which is the past participle of 'abbreviare', meaning 'to make brief'. The concept of abbreviation has been used in various languages and writing systems throughout history to save time and space. Abbreviations are commonly used in written communication, especially in technical or scientific fields.