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to abbreviate

to abbreviate

9 3.6
To make something shorter while keeping the important parts
  • verb
  • /əˈbrivɪˌeɪt/
translation icon : abreviar
  • Brief functional analysis (BFA) is an abbreviated assessment methodology derived from traditional extended functional analysis methods.
  • an abbreviated version
  • an abbreviated form

When the patent expires, there's something called an abbreviated new drug approval.

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Examples

  • Allow me to abbreviate my introduction.

  • So, for example, scientific notation could help us abbreviate numbers like these.

  • The flowcharts given in Figures 1-4 are abbreviated from the NICE guidance, which gives further detail.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I gave the Speaker an abbreviated account of the Nauvoo trip and my talk with Tree.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I drew five morals from the story and present them here in abbreviated form:

    Academic text (1991)
  • In 1994, Watson and Glaser prepared an abbreviated version, Form S, of the original Form A.

    Academic text (2005)
  • After the parade, the dancers perform an abbreviated version of the danza in the church courtyard.

    Academic text (1993)
  • And they abbreviated their endpoint from heart attack strokes and blood clots to just heart attacks.

  • To save time, the teacher asked us to abbreviate our reports to one page.

  • I always abbreviate my notes so I can review them more quickly before exams.

Synonyms

to cut
vsto abbreviate
2.3

To remove parts or make something shorter, for example text

emphasizes preserving the essential core while shortening overall scope
to reduce
vsto abbreviate
71 2.8

To make something simpler by cutting out details

focuses on keeping core meaning while mainly shortening length or scope
to cut down
vsto abbreviate
65 2.7

To make something smaller in amount or number

is about making something shorter while preserving core elements
to shorten
vsto abbreviate
45 2.3

Make something shorter, for example an article, skirt, or route

adds the idea of preserving essential elements while reducing scope
to condense
vsto abbreviate
21 4.2

Make something shorter by removing unimportant details

focuses on keeping essentials while reducing scope rather than full rewrite
to whittle down
vsto abbreviate
10 5.1

To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time

is about shortening in general, not specifically a slow, gradual cut
to pare down
vsto abbreviate
9 4.4

Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need

is the act of shortening without implying a gradual, stepwise process
to truncate
vsto abbreviate
8 7.0

To shorten something by cutting off a part, often the end

is broader, not limited to removing only an end section
to trim down
vsto abbreviate
3 3.4

To make something smaller by cutting or removing parts

is focused on keeping essentials while reducing overall scope
to prune
vsto abbreviate
2 4.2

To remove things you do not need to make something smaller or work better

aims to shorten while specifically preserving essential meaning rather than only quality
to concentrate
vsto abbreviate
1 4.0

To make writing or speech shorter and clearer

keeps essential elements while shortening beyond mere compression
to foreshorten
vsto abbreviate
1 7.5

Make something shorter in time or length while keeping its main parts

is similar but applies broadly to many kinds of shortening tasks
to abridge
vsto abbreviate
6.7

Make a book, play, or speech shorter by removing parts while keeping the main idea

is the general act of shortening across different materials and contexts
to recondense
vsto abbreviate
8.1

To make a text shorter again by removing extra words

is the basic shortening action rather than a repeated compression process

Antonyms

805 2.5

To grow larger in size, amount, or importance

34 2.4

Make something longer in size, distance, or time

How Short

to truncate
8 7.0
to abbreviate
9 3.6
to shorten
45 2.3
to trim
95 2.6

Surface Forms

abbreviate infinitive
abbreviated past participle
abbreviating present participle
abbreviates third person singular

Etymology

The word abbreviate comes from the Latin word brevis, which means 'short', and it is the same root you can see in brief and brevity. So to abbreviate something is to make it shorter while keeping the main or essential parts.