abbreviateverbActivator 1Word sets 1Other dictionary examplesCorpus examplesabbreviateabbreviatesabbreviatedabbreviatingabbreviateab‧bre‧vi‧ate /E™EˆbriE?vieE?t/ verb [transitive]Date: 1400-1500 Language: Late Latin Origin: past participle of abbreviare, from Latinbrevisâ€?short’ Verb form SHORT/NOT LONGto make a word or expression shorter by not including letters or using only the first letter of each word SYN shortenbe abbreviated to somethingâ€?Information technology’ is usually abbreviated to â€?IT’.beabbreviate