abbreviate

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈbriviˌeɪt/ UK /əˈbriːvieɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to shorten a word, phrase, or text

We abbreviate "versus" to "vs" in citations.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to shorten a word, phrase,... shorten abridge condense contract truncate curtail compress

Opposites

lengthen expand extend elongate amplify

Word family

Derived forms abbreviationabbreviatedabbreviatorabbreviatory

Related forms briefbreviaryabridge

Simplified etymology

Abbreviate entered English in the late Middle English period and ultimately comes from Latin brevis, meaning “short.” It shares this root with brief and breve.

Etymology

From Latin abbreviātus, past participle of abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre ('to shorten'), from brevis ('short').

abbreviāre Latin brevis Latin *mréǵʰus Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# abbreviate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈbriviˌeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈbriːvieɪt/

## Meanings
1. to shorten a word, phrase, or text

## Examples
- We abbreviate "versus" to "vs" in citations.

## Synonyms
- shorten
- abridge
- condense
- contract
- truncate
- curtail
- compress

## Antonyms
- lengthen
- expand
- extend
- elongate
- amplify

## Derived Forms
- abbreviation
- abbreviated
- abbreviator
- abbreviatory

## Related Forms
- brief
- breviary
- abridge

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: abbreviāre
- Root: brevis
- Root: *mréǵʰus

## Etymology
From Latin abbreviātus, past participle of abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre ('to shorten'), from brevis ('short').

## AI Etymology
Abbreviate is a verb meaning "to shorten a word, phrase, or text". Historically, it is from Latin abbreviātus, past participle of abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre ('to shorten'), from brevis ('short'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: abbreviate is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin abbreviāre, Latin brevis, and Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Close English family members include abbreviation, abbreviated, abbreviator, abbreviatory, and brief.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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