Definition of: abbreviate

(ə·brē′vē ·āt) v.t. ·at·ed, ·at·ing
1. To condense or make briefer.
2. To shorten, as a word or expression, especially by omission or contraction: Mistress is abbreviated to Mrs. [<L abbreviatus, pp. of abbreviare <ad- to + breviare shorten < brevis short. Doublet of ABRIDGE.]
—ab·bre′vi·a′tor noun Synonyms: abridge, compress, condense, contract, curtail, epitomize, prune, reduce, shorten. Compare ABBREVIATIONS, ABRIDGMENT. Anatonyms: amplify, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen.