abbreviate
[ə'brivɪ`et]
vt. 缩写, 使...简略, 缩短

vi. 使缩写词

1. In writing, the title `Doctor' is abbreviated to `Dr'.
   书写, Doctor头衔缩写Dr.
2. The teacher asked me to abbreviate my report to one page.
   老师把告缩短页。
3. Which of these words do you want me to abbreviate for the telegram?
   您将些些缩写？

abbreviate
[ verb ]

1. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

<verb.change> abridge contract cut foreshorten reduce shorten
The manuscript must be shortened

2. shorten

<verb.change>
Abbreviate `New York' and write `NY'

Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abbreviated};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Abbreviating}.] [L. abbreviatus, p. p. of
abbreviare; ad + breviare to shorten, fr. brevis short. See
{Abridge}.]
1. To make 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,
another by cutting off. --Bacon.

2. (Math.) To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.


Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, a. [L. abbreviatus, p. p.]
1. Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] ``The abbreviate
form.'' --Earle.

2. (Biol.) Having one part relatively shorter than another or
than the ordinary type.


Abbreviate \Ab*bre"vi*ate\, n.
An abridgment. [Obs.] --Elyot.