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abbreviate

ab·bre·vi·ate [ ə brvee ayt ] (past and past participle ab·bre·vi·at·ed, present participle ab·bre·vi·at·ing, 3rd person present singular ab·bre·vi·ates)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. shorten word: to shorten a word by leaving out some of its letters or sounds

2. shorten text: to shorten a piece of text by cutting sections or paraphrasing it

[15th century. < Latin abbreviat-, past participle of abbreviare "shorten" < brevis "short"]

ab·bre·vi·a·tor noun
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