ab

plural abs

1. abbreviationclippinginformalClipping of abdominal muscle .First known use mid 20ᵗʰ century

   When possible, do your ab workout on a day when you're not training a major muscle group […] .

   2010, Bill Geiger, "6-pack Abs in 9 Weeks", Reps! 17:106

   1 more example

   The bikinied models in most of the ESPN2 shows have abs. Many of the malnourished bikinied models in the commercials have visible rib cages. How did the two get conflated into a shared vision of beauty?

   2006, H. Peter Steeves, The Things Themselves, page 75

plural abs

1. slangAn abscess caused by injecting an illegal drug, usually heroin.

present singular third person abs · participle present abbing · participle past abbed · past abbed

1. informalclimbingTo abseil.

   I had a climbing rope in my pack, set up an abseil with it, and abbed down to him.

   1998, Climbing, numbers 178-180, page 22

2. abbreviationAbbreviation of abort.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of abortion.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of about.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of about.

plural abs

1. USThe early stages of; the beginning process; the start.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of Alberta: a province of Canada.
2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Artium baccalaureus.
3. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Aryan Brotherhood, a US white supremacist, neo-Nazi prison gang and crime syndicate.

   Synonyms: 12

4. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Anheuser-Busch.

   Shares of AB InBev (BUD) soared nearly 6% after the Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois owner reported solid sales and earnings.

   2019 July 25, Paul R. La Monica, “Good news for the king of beer: People are drinking more”, in CNN Business

plural ABs

1. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of able seaman or able-bodied seaman.

   In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires— A.B. means an able-bodied seaman […]

   Section 2(1), Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance (Cap. 478)

2. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of afterburner.
3. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of aid to the blind.
4. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableaeronauticsInitialism of airbase.
5. abbreviationcountableuncountablechemistryAbbreviation of alkylbenzene.
6. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablemedicineInitialism of antibody.
7. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of artificial breeding.
8. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablegovernmentInitialism of assembly bill.

   AB-89 would have required that participation in sex-segregated California school programs, athletic teams, and facility use be based on a pupil’s sex, not gender identity.

   2025 April 1, FOX26 News Staff, “Both transgender athlete bills fail in California”, in FOX26 News

9. countableuncountableA blood type of the ABO system that has both blood antigens and may receive all blood types, and donate to AB.
   1. countableA person with this blood type.
10. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of adult baby.

    Well, he appears to be an AB. You know, an adult baby. It's a fetish in which the baby is taken care of in every way by a mommy or a daddy.

    2002 October 3, Dee Johnson, “Dead Again” (at 23:18–23:27 from the start), in Richard Thorpe, director, ER, season 9, episode 2, spoken by Michael Gallant (Sharif Atkins)

11. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of asymmetric bars.
12. AustraliacountableA halal snack pack consisting of doner meat topped with chips, tomato sauce, chilli sauce, barbecue sauce, and garlic sauce.
13. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of attentional blink.

1. abbreviationinitialismnot comparableInitialism of airborne.
2. abbreviationinitialismnot comparableInitialism of antiballistic.
3. abbreviationinitialismnot comparableball gamesInitialism of at bat.

plural Abs

1. symbolimmunologySymbol for antibody.

   Synonyms: Ig, immunoglobulin · Antonyms: Ag, antigen

plural Abs

1. JudaismAv.First known use First attested in the late 18ᵗʰ century.

   The Book of Lamentations is chanted in the synagogue on the ninth of Ab.

   1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 56

1. A diminutive of the male given name Abner, from Hebrew, occasionally used as a formal given name.

plural Abs · alternative ib

1. datedIn Egyptian belief, the heart and will and conscience of a person, especially that of the recently deceased which proceeds to the afterlife and is weighed as evidence during his or her judgement.
2. datedAn Ancient Egyptian amulet in the shape of a heart (ib).

1. abbreviationuncountabletitleAbbreviation of Abbot.