abs

¹ American  

[abz] / æbz /

plural noun

Informal.

1. abdominal muscles.

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ABS ² American  

1. antilock braking system.

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abs- ³ American  

1. variant of ab-.

   absent; abscond.

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abs. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. absent.

2. absolute.

3. abstract.

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A.B.S. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. American Bible Society.

2. American Bureau of Shipping.

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ABS ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene: any of a range of tough copolymers used esp for making moulded articles

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abs ² British  

/ æbz /

plural noun

1. informal abdominal muscles

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Etymology

Origin of abs

An Americanism dating back to 1980–85; by shortening

Example Sentences

Baseball pledges ABS will be lightning quick compared to something like the NBA’s halting challenge system, in which refs stand around trying to see who’s fingernail touched the ball last and is the pits of the Earth.

From The Wall Street Journal

I’m probably not even going to notice ABS after a few months.

From The Wall Street Journal

This was followed by a 3.1% rise in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the ABS said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The increase in electricity costs over the year is mostly related to the end of government subsidies to help pay electricity bills, the ABS said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Frisch, too, pointed to Affirm’s ABS deal last week, noting that it was still oversubscribed despite being upsized.

From Barron's