1. To create briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to
reduce by
contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken. "It is one thing to
abbreviate by contracting, other by
cutting off."
2.
To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
3. Having one part relatively shorter than other or than the usual type.
See: abridge.
Origin: L. Abbreviatus, p.p. Of abbreviare; ad + breviare to shorten, fr. Brevis short.