ab

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈab

: an abdominal muscle

—usually used in plural

2 of 6

abbreviation (1)

about

3 of 6

noun (2)

ˈäb

ˈäv

ˈȯv

: the 11th month of the civil year or the 5th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar see Months of the Principal Calendars Table

4 of 6

noun (3)

ˈā-ˈbē

: the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the absence of antibodies against these antigens

5 of 6

abbreviation (2)

able seaman; able-bodied seaman

abort; abortion

airborne

airman basic

Alberta

[New Latin artium baccalaureus] bachelor of arts

ab-

6 of 6

prefix

: from : away : off

abaxial

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Hebrew Ābh

Prefix

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin ab-, abs-, a-, from ab, a — more at of

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1956, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1771, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of ab was circa 1771

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ab. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

ab-

prefix

: from : away : departing from

abnormal

Medical Definition

1 of 4 noun

ˈab

: abdominal

—usually used in plural

highly developed abs

ab exercises

2 of 4 abbreviation

or AB abort; abortion

about

3 of 4 noun

ˈā-ˈbē

: the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the absence of antibodies against these antigens

4 of 4 abbreviation

aid to blind