Basic Details
Word: Abbreviate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To make a word, phrase or name shorter, usually by keeping only some of its letters, as when Doctor is written Dr.
Synonyms: shorten, condense, abridge
Antonyms: lengthen, expand
Word origin: Comes from Latin abbreviare, to shorten, from brevis, short.
How to Spell Abbreviate
Syllables: ab - bre - vi - ate
Tricky part: The word opens with a double b, and students often drop one. The end is viate, with an i before the a, not veate.
Watch out for: abreviate, abbriviate, abbreveate
Memory tip: Split it as ab + brevi + ate. The brevi part is the same as in brevity, so the first b belongs to ab and the second starts brevi.
Usage Examples
Example 1: We abbreviate Doctor to Dr on the name board outside the clinic.
Example 2: Ritu abbreviates kilometre to km in her science notes to save time.
Example 3: Please do not abbreviate words in your exam answers.
Fun Fact
Some everyday words began as shortened forms that people no longer notice: bus is short for omnibus, and pram is short for perambulator.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. apreciate 2. exagerate 3. abbreviate 4. accomodate
a) to provide room or space for someone
b) to make something seem bigger than it really is
c) to make a word or phrase shorter
d) to value something or be grateful for it
Show answer
c) to make a word or phrase shorter. Abbreviate keeps both its b's; accommodate needs two m's, exaggerate two g's and appreciate two p's.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
a_bre_iate
a) r, v
b) b, v
c) b, b
d) p, v
Show answer
b) b, v. The first gap doubles the b, and the second holds the v sound in the middle of the word.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
On the form you may virabtebae your middle name to a single letter.
a) abbreviate
b) aggravate
c) alleviate
d) abrogate
Show answer
a) abbreviate. The jumble has two b's and a v; alleviate needs two l's, aggravate two g's, and abrogate an o.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. To abbreviate a word is to ____.
a) shorten it
b) underline it
c) repeat it
d) translate it
Show answer
a) shorten it
2. Which of these words was made by cutting down a longer word?
a) table
b) river
c) phone
d) garden
Show answer
c) phone
