Adjacent Words

Abrupt definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ABRUPT', a. [L. abruptus, from abrumpo, to break off, of ab and rumpo. See Rupture.]
1. Literally, broken off, or broken short.
Hence,
2. Steep, craggy; applied to rocks, precipices and the like.
3. Figuratively, sudden; without notice to prepare the mind for the event; as an abrupt entrance and address.
4. Unconnected; having sudden transitions from one subject to another; as an abrupt style.
5. In botany, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one which has neither leaflet, nor entril at the end.
ABRUPT', n. A chasm or gulf with steep sides. "Over the vast abrupt." [This use of the word is infrequent.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions; "abrupt prose" [syn: abrupt, disconnected]
2: exceedingly sudden and unexpected; "came to an abrupt stop"; "an abrupt change in the weather"
3: extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" [syn: abrupt, precipitous, sharp]
4: surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner; "an abrupt reply"

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Latin abruptus, from past participle of abrumpere to break off, from ab- + rumpere to break — more at reave Date: 1530 1. a. characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning ; unexpected <came to an abrupt stop> <an abrupt turn> <an abrupt decision to retire> b. unceremoniously curt <an abrupt manner> c. lacking smoothness or continuity <an abrupt transition> 2. giving the impression of being cut or broken off; especially involving a sudden steep rise or drop <abrupt hills> <a high abrupt bank bounded the stream> Synonyms: see precipitate, steep • abruptly adverb • abruptness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 sudden and unexpected; hasty (his abrupt departure). 2 (of speech, manner, etc.) uneven; lacking continuity; curt. 3 steep, precipitous. 4 Bot. truncated. 5 Geol. (of strata) suddenly appearing at the surface. Derivatives: abruptly adv. abruptness n. Etymology: L abruptus past part. of abrumpere (as AB-, rumpere break)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Abrupt Ab*rupt", a. [L. abruptus, p. p. of abrumpere to break off; ab + rumpere to break. See Rupture.] 1. Broken off; very steep, or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks; precipitous; steep; as, abrupt places. ``Tumbling through ricks abrupt,'' --Thomson. 2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious. ``The cause of your abrupt departure.'' --Shak. 3. Having sudden transitions from one subject to another; unconnected. The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. --B. Jonson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Abrupt Ab*rupt", n. [L. abruptum.] An abrupt place. [Poetic] ``Over the vast abrupt.'' --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Abrupt Ab*rupt", v. t. To tear off or asunder. [Obs.] ``Till death abrupts them.'' --Sir T. Browne.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. An abrupt change or action is very sudden, often in a way which is unpleasant. Rosie's idyllic world came to an abrupt end when her parents' marriage broke up... ADJ • abruptly He stopped abruptly and looked my way. = suddenly ADV: ADV with v 2. Someone who is abrupt speaks in a rather rude, unfriendly way. He was abrupt to the point of rudeness... Cross was a little taken aback by her abrupt manner. = brusque ADJ • abruptly 'Good night, then,' she said abruptly. ADV

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Broken, cragged, craggy, rough, rugged, jagged. 2. Steep, precipitous, acclivous, acclivitous. 3. Sudden, unexpected, unanticipated, precipitate, hasty, unseasonable, ill-timed, unlooked for, unannounced. 4. Short, blunt, unceremonious, curt, brusk (or brusque), rude, rough, inconsiderate, uncomplaisant, discourteous. 5. Inelegant (as style), stiff, cramped, harsh, disconnected, unconnected.

Moby Thesaurus

aggressive, arduous, bearish, beastly, bluff, blunt, blunt-edged, blunt-ended, blunt-pointed, blunted, bluntish, bold, brash, breakneck, breathless, brief, brisk, brusque, casual, cavalier, churlish, crisp, crusty, curt, discourteous, dull, dull-edged, dull-pointed, dulled, dullish, edgeless, electrifying, faired, gruff, harsh, hasty, headlong, hurried, impetuous, impolite, impulsive, informal, nerve-shattering, obtuse, panting, perpendicular, plumb, plunging, pointless, precipitant, precipitate, precipitous, quick, rapid, rash, ready, rough, rounded, rude, rushing, severe, sharp, sheer, shocking, short, sideling, smoothed, snappish, snappy, snippety, snippy, speedy, startling, steep, stickle, sudden, surly, surprising, swift, truculent, unannounced, unanticipated, unceremonious, uncivil, unedged, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for, unplanned, unpointed, unpredicted, unsharp, unsharpened, vertical