Abbreviating: meaning, definitions and examples

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abbreviating

 

[ əˈbriv·iˌeɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

shortening words

Abbreviating refers to the process of shortening a word or phrase by omitting certain letters or syllables. This is commonly done to create a more concise representation of a term that is often used in speech or writing. Abbreviations can make communication faster and more efficient, especially in technical fields or casual conversations. Examples include 'info' for 'information' and 'TV' for 'television'.

Synonyms

condensing, contracting, shortening

Examples of usage

  • He is abbreviating the report for easier reading.
  • Abbreviating common terms helps save space in texts.
  • They are abbreviating the long title to make it clearer.
  • She is abbreviating her notes for the class.
  • Abbreviating can lead to misunderstandings if not used carefully.

Translations

Translations of the word "abbreviating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abreviando

🇮🇳 संक्षिप्त करना

🇩🇪 abkürzen

🇮🇩 memendekkan

🇺🇦 скорочуючи

🇵🇱 skracanie

🇯🇵 省略する

🇫🇷 abréger

🇪🇸 abrevando

🇹🇷 kısaltma

🇰🇷 축약하는

🇸🇦 اختصار

🇨🇿 zkracování

🇸🇰 skracovanie

🇨🇳 缩写

🇸🇮 skrajšanje

🇮🇸 stytting

🇰🇿 қысқарту

🇬🇪 შეკვეცვა

🇦🇿 qısaltma

🇲🇽 abreviando

Word origin

The word 'abbreviate' originates from the Latin term 'abbreviatus', which is the past participle of 'abbreviare', meaning 'to shorten'. This Latin term is derived from 'ad-', meaning 'to', and 'brevis', meaning 'short'. The use of abbreviations can be traced back to ancient Rome where they were used for inscriptions and in written documents to save space and effort. Over time, the practice of abbreviating words has grown significantly, particularly with the advent of typewriters and, later, computers, where space-saving became even more crucial. In modern times, abbreviations are ubiquitous, used in everything from text messages to technical jargon. The way abbreviations are formed and understood has also evolved with the advent of digital communication, leading to new forms of slang and casual writing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,953, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.