adj. 1. Unexpectedly sudden: an abrupt change in the weather. 2. Surprisingly curt; brusque: an abrupt answer made in anger. 3. Touching on one subject after another with sudden transitions: abrupt prose. 4. Steeply inclined. See Synonyms at steep1. 5. Botany Terminating suddenly rather than gradually; truncate: an abrupt leaf. [Latin abruptus, past participle of abrumpere, to break off : ab-, away; see AB-1 + rumpere, to break; see reup- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] a·bruptly adv. a·bruptness n. |
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