abbreviate

to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.

2.	to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer: to abbreviate a speech.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to use abbreviations.