Abbreviate is a word that is often used in written communication and has a significant impact on the way we communicate. It is a term that is commonly used in the English language, and its meaning is essential to understand. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of the word “abbreviate” and its origins, synonyms, antonyms, and associations.
Definitions
The word “abbreviate” is a verb that means to shorten a word, phrase, or text by omitting or replacing letters, words, or phrases. It is a process that is commonly used in written communication to save time and space. The act of abbreviating can be done using various techniques, such as using acronyms, initialisms, or contractions.
Origin
The word “abbreviate” has its roots in the Latin word “abbreviare,” which means to shorten. The word was first used in the English language in the early 15th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “abbreviate” means to make shorter. The Cambridge dictionary defines it as to make a word or phrase shorter by using only the first letters of each word. The Oxford dictionary defines it as to shorten a word or phrase by omitting letters or syllables.
Associations
The word “abbreviate” is often associated with written communication, such as emails, text messages, and other forms of digital communication. It is also associated with the field of medicine, where abbreviations are commonly used to save time and space when documenting patient records.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of “abbreviate” include shorten, condense, truncate, abridge, and curtail.
Antonyms
Some antonyms of “abbreviate” include expand, lengthen, extend, and amplify.
The same root words
Words that have the same root as “abbreviate” include abbreviation, abbreviated, and abbreviator.
Example Sentences
- Can you abbreviate the word “International” to “Int’l”?.
- The article was too long, so I had to abbreviate it to fit on one page.
- The doctor used abbreviations in my medical records to save time and space.
- The company’s name was abbreviated to save space on the business card.
- I had to abbreviate my text message to fit within the character limit.