descriptor, form, signifier, word form - the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something; "the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached"

apocope - abbreviation of a word by omitting the final sound or sounds; "the British get `pud' from `pudding' by apocope"

appro - an informal British abbreviation of approval; "he accepted it on appro"

shortening - act of decreasing in length; "the dress needs shortening"