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acronym

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

acronym

Main Entry:: ac·ro·nym
Pronunciation:: \ˈa-krə-ˌnim\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: acr- + -onym
Date:: 1943

: a word (as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term; also : an abbreviation (as FBI: initialism

— ac·ro·nym·ic

Listen to the pronunciation of acronymic

\ˌa-krə-ˈni-mik\ adjective

— ac·ro·nym·i·cal·ly

Listen to the pronunciation of acronymically

\-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Learn more about "acronym" and related topics at Britannica.com

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