/ əˈbriːvieɪt; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] abbreviate sth (to sth) to make a word, phrase or name shorter by leaving out letters or using only the first letter of each word
SYN shorten :
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (usually abbreviated to JPL)
► ab·bre·vi·ated adjective :
Where appropriate, abbreviated forms are used.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from late Latin abbreviat- shortened, from the verb abbreviare , from Latin brevis short.