Ab*bre`vi*a"tion (?), n. [LL.
abbreviatio: cf. F. abbréviation.] 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.