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abbreviation

 - 4 dictionary results

ab⋅bre⋅vi⋅a⋅tion

  [uh-bree-vee-ey-shuhn]
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–noun
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.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME abbreviacioun (< MF) < LL abbreviātiōn- (s. of abbreviātiō). See abbreviate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ab·bre·vi·a·tion   (ə-brē'vē-ā'shən)   
n.  

  1. The act or product of shortening.

  2. A shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as Mass. for Massachusetts or USMC for United States Marine Corps.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

abbreviation

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

abbreviation 
1460, from M.Fr. abréviation, from L.L. abbreviationem (nom. abbreviatio), from pp. of abbreviare "make brief," from L. ad "to" + breviare "shorten," from brevis "short, low, little, shallow" (see brief (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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