n]
| 1. | a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr. for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound. |
| 2. | an act of abbreviating; state or result of being abbreviated; reduction in length, duration, etc.; abridgment. |

A shortened form of an expression, usually followed by a period. Dr. is a standard abbreviation for Doctor; MA is a standard abbreviation for Massachusetts.