abbreviate

v. shorten, reduce in length, make brief

An abbreviation (from Latin brevis "short") is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase. For example, the word "abbreviation" can itself be represented by the abbreviation "abbr." or "abbrev."
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Verb
1. shorten; "Abbreviate `New York' and write `NY'"
(hypernym) reduce
(derivation) abbreviation
2. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"
(synonym) abridge, foreshorten, shorten, cut, contract, reduce
(hypernym) decrease, lessen, minify
(hyponym) bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate, shorten
(verb-group) edit, cut, edit out
(derivation) abridger, abbreviator

v. cut short, shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, condense

adj. condensed, abridged, shortened

(v. t.)
To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
  

(v. t.)
To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.
  

(n.)
An abridgment.
  

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

(a.)
Abbreviated; abridged; shortened.