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abrupt

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The definition of abrupt is when something suddenly happens or changes suddenly, with no advance warning.

(adjective)

An example of abrupt is a driver quickly making a left turn without putting his turn signal on first.

Abrupt is when someone is short or curt in their manner or actions.

(adjective)

An example of abrupt is a teacher who always cuts her students off in conversation without ever stopping to listen.

Abrupt means the edge of something appears to break off suddenly or steeply.

(adjective)

An example of abrupt is a high cliff on the edge of a mountain.

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See abrupt in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

coming, happening, or ending suddenly; sudden; unexpected
curt or gruff in behavior or speech; brusque
very steep: said as of a precipice
jumping from topic to topic without proper transitions; jerky and disconnected
Geol. having sudden variations in composition, form, etc.: said esp. of adjacent rock formations

Origin: L abruptus, pp. of abrumpere, to break off < ab-, off + rumpere, to break: see rupture

Related Forms:

abruptly adverb
abruptness noun

See abrupt in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Unexpectedly sudden: an abrupt change in the weather.
Surprisingly curt; brusque: an abrupt answer made in anger.
Touching on one subject after another with sudden transitions: abrupt prose.
Steeply inclined. See Synonyms at steep¹.
Botany Terminating suddenly rather than gradually; truncate: an abrupt leaf.

Origin:

Origin: Latin abruptus

Origin: , past participle of abrumpere, to break off

Origin: : ab-, away; see ab-¹

Origin: + rumpere, to break; see reup- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

a·bruptˈly adverb

a·bruptˈness noun

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