abbreviate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make a word or phrase shorter by leaving out some letters.
v.to reduce a word or phrase to a shorter form by omitting letters or using a contraction. Transitive; requires a direct object.
Simple“You can abbreviate the word 'Street' to 'St.' when writing an address.”
In context“The editor requested that the author abbreviate all technical terms after their first mention to improve the manuscript's readability.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to make something like a speech or a meeting shorter than planned.
v.to shorten a duration or a piece of writing by omitting parts or ending it early.
Simple“The rainy weather forced the organizers to abbreviate the outdoor ceremony.”
In context“The keynote speaker had to abbreviate his presentation significantly when the previous panel ran over its allotted time.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to reduce a fraction to its simplest form.
v.to reduce a mathematical expression or fraction to lower terms.
Simple“The teacher showed the students how to abbreviate the fraction four-eighths to one-half.”
In context“In complex algebraic equations, it is often necessary to abbreviate terms before attempting to solve for the primary variable.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
adj.having one part that is shorter than usual or shorter than other parts.
adj.characterized by having a specific part that is shorter than the typical form or shorter in relation to other structures.
Simple“The bird was identified by its abbreviate tail feathers and unique wing shape.”
In context“The specimen was categorized as a subspecies due to its abbreviate dorsal fin, which distinguishes it from the primary population.”
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
'Abbreviate' refers specifically to shortening words or text; use 'adapt' or 'condense' for changing media or summarizing stories.
From Middle English abbreviaten, from abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the participle of abbreviaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin abbreviātus, perfect passive participle of abbreviō (“to shorten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab- + breviō (“to shorten”), from brevis (“short”). Alternatively, a back-formation from abbreviation. Doublet of abridge.
From Middle English abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the past participle of abbreviaten); the noun is derived by subtsantivization from the adjective. See -ate (adjective forming suffix), -ate (noun forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.