abrupt

a·brupt  (-brpt)

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 Indo-European roots.]

---

a·bruptly adv.

a·bruptness n.

---

abrupt

Adjective

1. sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure

2. rather rude in speech or manner [Latin abruptus broken off]

abruptly adv
abruptness n

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	abrupt - marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions; "abrupt prose" disconnected disconnected, staccato - (music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply; "staccato applause"; "a staccato command"; "staccato notes"
	2.	abrupt - exceedingly sudden and unexpected; "came to an abrupt stop"; "an abrupt change in the weather" sudden - happening without warning or in a short space of time; "a sudden storm"; "a sudden decision"; "a sudden cure"
	3.	abrupt - extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" precipitous, sharp steep - having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs"
	4.	abrupt - surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner; "an abrupt reply" discourteous - showing no courtesy; rude; "a distant and at times discourteous young"

---

abrupt

adjective 1. sudden, unexpected, hurried, rapid, surprising, quick, swift, rash, precipitate, hasty, impulsive, headlong, unforeseen, unanticipated << OPPOSITE slow

adjective 2. curt, direct, brief, sharp, rough, short, clipped, blunt, rude, tart, impatient, brisk, concise, snappy, terse, gruff, succinct, pithy, brusque, offhand, impolite, monosyllabic, ungracious, discourteous, uncivil, unceremonious, snappish << OPPOSITE polite

adjective 3. steep, sharp, sheer, sudden, precipitous << OPPOSITE gradual

Translations

abrupt [əˈbrʌpt] adj (= sudden) [departure] → repentino; [manner] → brusco

---

abrupt [əˈbrʌpt] adj (= steep, blunt) → abrupt(e) (= sudden, gruff); brusque

---

abrupt [əˈbrʌpt] adj → abrupt;

(person, behaviour) → schroff

---

abrupt [əˈbrʌpt] adj (= steep) → erto/a (= sudden); improvviso/a (= gruff, blunt); brusco/a