ABBREVIATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does abbreviate mean? 

• ABBREVIATE (verb)
  The verb ABBREVIATE has 2 senses:

1. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

2. shorten

  Familiarity information: ABBREVIATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABBREVIATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they abbreviate    ... he / she / it abbreviates   
Past simple: abbreviated   
Past participle: abbreviated   
-ing form: abbreviating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten

Context example:

The manuscript must be shortened

Hypernyms (to "abbreviate" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Verb group:

cut; edit; edit out (cut and assemble the components of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abbreviate"):

bowdlerise; bowdlerize; castrate; expurgate; shorten (edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate)

concentrate; condense; digest (make more concise)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

abbreviator (one who shortens or abridges or condenses a written work)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shorten

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Abbreviate 'New York' and write 'NY'

Hypernyms (to "abbreviate" is one way to...):

reduce (make less complex)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

abbreviation (a shortened form of a word or phrase)

abbreviator (one who shortens or abridges or condenses a written work)

 Context examples 

An abbreviated literal identifier for a parameter.

(Parameter Short Name, NCI Thesaurus)

The abbreviated leg looked as though the devil had there clutched for the Cockney’s soul and missed the shadow for the substance.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The non-unique initials or abbreviated name used for identification.

(Acronym, NCI Thesaurus)

In particular, they would like to know how the stars interact with the Galactic center's most dominant resident: the supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A* (abbreviated Sgr A*).

(Scientists Take Viewers to the Center of the Milky Way, NASA)

Any process which reduces the steady-state level or inhibits the release of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin, resulting in diminished or abbreviated neurotransmission.

(Negative Regulation of Serotonin Release, NCI Thesaurus)

A written regulatory communication from FDA to an applicant, who submitted request to the agency to approve marketing or to license medical product, stating that the agency can approve the application or abbreviated application if specific additional information or material is submitted or specific conditions are met.

(FDA Approval, NCI Thesaurus)

An approvable letter does not constitute approval of any part of an application or abbreviated application and does not permit marketing of the drug that is the subject of the application or abbreviated application.

(FDA Approval, NCI Thesaurus)