A shortened form of a word or phrase.
-
Types of abbreviations:
There are four main kinds of abbreviations: shortenings, contractions, initialisms, and acronyms. 1 Shortenings of words usually consist of the first few letters of the full form and are usually spelled with a final period when they are still regarded as abbreviations, for example, cont. = continued, in = inch. In the cases when they form words in their own right, the period is omitted, for example, hippo = hippopotamus, limo = limousine. Such shortenings are often but not always informal. Some become the standard forms, and the full forms are then regarded as formal or technical, for example, bus = omnibus, taxi = taxicab, deli = delicatessen, zoo = zoological garden. Sometimes shortenings are altered to facilitate their pronunciation or spelling: bike = bicycle2 Contractions are abbreviated forms in which letters from the middle of the full form have been omitted, for example, Dr. = doctor, St. = saint or street. Such forms are invariably followed by a period. Another kind of contraction is the type with an apostrophe marking the omission of letters: can't = cannot, didn't = did not, you've = you have. 3 Initialisms are made up of the initial letters of words and are pronounced as separate letters: CIA (or C.I.A.), NYC, pm (or p.m.), U.S. (or US). Practice varies with regard to periods, with current usage increasingly in favor of omitting them, especially when the initialism consists entirely of capital letters. 4 Acronyms are initialisms that have become words in their own right, or similar words formed from parts of several words. They are pronounced as words rather than as a series of letters, for example, AIDS, laser, scuba, UNESCO, and do not have periods. In many cases the acronym becomes the standard term and the full form is only used in explanatory contexts.
-
Types of abbreviations:
There are four main kinds of abbreviations: shortenings, contractions, initialisms, and acronyms. 1 Shortenings of words usually consist of the first few letters of the full form and are usually spelled with a final period when they are still regarded as abbreviations, for example, cont. = continued, in = inch. In the cases when they form words in their own right, the period is omitted, for example, hippo = hippopotamus, limo = limousine. Such shortenings are often but not always informal. Some become the standard forms, and the full forms are then regarded as formal or technical, for example, bus = omnibus, taxi = taxicab, deli = delicatessen, zoo = zoological garden. Sometimes shortenings are altered to facilitate their pronunciation or spelling: bike = bicycle2 Contractions are abbreviated forms in which letters from the middle of the full form have been omitted, for example, Dr. = doctor, St. = saint or street. Such forms are invariably followed by a period. Another kind of contraction is the type with an apostrophe marking the omission of letters: can't = cannot, didn't = did not, you've = you have. 3 Initialisms are made up of the initial letters of words and are pronounced as separate letters: CIA (or C.I.A.), NYC, pm (or p.m.), U.S. (or US). Practice varies with regard to periods, with current usage increasingly in favor of omitting them, especially when the initialism consists entirely of capital letters. 4 Acronyms are initialisms that have become words in their own right, or similar words formed from parts of several words. They are pronounced as words rather than as a series of letters, for example, AIDS, laser, scuba, UNESCO, and do not have periods. In many cases the acronym becomes the standard term and the full form is only used in explanatory contexts.
by Jafje September 9, 2007
Get the Abbreviation mug.by wagwan2k19 September 29, 2019
Get the abbreviation mug.
Bill: Dude, I want to put something on urbandictionary.com!
Ted: Bro, just make an abbreviation out of a commonly used phrase and it'll be on in no time.
Ted: Bro, just make an abbreviation out of a commonly used phrase and it'll be on in no time.
by over 9000!!1! July 14, 2010
Get the abbreviation mug.Example 1:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Abbreviation Re-creation
Big Stupid Orchestra
Example 2:
High School Musical
Horrible Singing Musical
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Abbreviation Re-creation
Big Stupid Orchestra
Example 2:
High School Musical
Horrible Singing Musical
by Anonymous120663 December 9, 2008
Get the Abbreviation Re-creation mug.by AJackman January 16, 2009
Get the Abbreviation stacking mug.(n.) A typically short combination of letters used together when an attention-loving internet user takes a commonly used phrase and abbreviates it for no reason and posts it on Urban Dictionary. The abbreviation usually does not even create an acronym and it is unlikely that anyone would understand what the abbreviation meant if it was used in any context what-so-ever.
While scrolling through Urban Dictionary last night I saw the newest of the useless Urban-abbreviations on the front page. A user decided they should post that lbd (an abbreviation for "little black dress") on the site, thus filling a spot on the page with useless garbage that doesn't need to be said.
by Sputnik17 July 28, 2009
Get the Urban-abbreviation mug.