abbreviation Hear it!

abbreviation definition

ab·bre·via·tion (ə brē′vē ā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. a making shorter
  2. the fact or state of being made shorter
  3. a shortened form of a word or phrase, as N.Y. for New York, Mr. for Mister, lb for pound, ctn for cotangent

Etymology: ME < MFr abréviation < LL abbreviatio: see abbreviate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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