Abbreviating

/əˈbriːv.i.eɪ.tɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Present participle of abbreviate; the act of shortening words, phrases, or ideas while retaining their meaning.

Etymology

From 'abbreviate' + '-ing' (Old English gerund/present participle suffix). This form allows 'abbreviate' to function as a noun or continuous action.

Kelly Says

Text messaging created a whole new era of abbreviating—'lol,' 'omg,' 'tbh'—that linguists are still studying to understand if internet abbreviations are changing how young people actually think about language.

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