abbreviation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a shortened form of a word or phrase
  2. noun shortening something by omitting parts of it

WordNet

Ab*bre`vi*a"tion noun
Etymology
LL. abbreviatio: cf. F. abbréviation.
Definitions
  1. The act of shortening, or reducing.
  2. The result of abbreviating; an abridgment. Tylor.
  3. The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.
  4. (Mus.) One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demi-semiquavers. Moore.

Webster 1913