abbreviation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a shortened form of a word or phrase used to represent the whole

   Np is the chemical-symbol abbreviation used for neptunium.

2. 2
   noun

   the act or process of shortening a word, phrase, text, or activity

   The editor's abbreviation of the title made it fit on the spine.

From Middle English abbreviacioun, through French from Late Latin abbreviatio, based on Latin abbreviare ("to shorten"), from ad- + brevis ("short").

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