Difference between revisions of "Acronym"
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| − | An '''acronym''' is an [[abbreviation]] consisting of initial | + | An '''acronym''' is an [[abbreviation]] consisting of initial [[letter]]s that are read like an ordinary word. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| − | English ''radar'' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈreɪdɑɹ]}}), from '''''ra'''dio '''d'''etection '''a'''nd '''r'''anging''. | + | [[English]] ''radar'' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈreɪdɑɹ]}}), from '''''ra'''dio '''d'''etection '''a'''nd '''r'''anging''. |
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| + | The English acronyms ''NATO'', ''FOP'' and ''FEC'' are made out of ''North Atlantic Treaty Organization'', ''First Order Principle'' and ''Free Element Condition'', respectively. Some [[Dutch]] examples are: ''TROS'', ''KNAV'' and ''DAF''. | ||
=== Comments === | === Comments === | ||
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From Greek ''akro''- 'tip' and ''-oonym-'' 'name'. The first attestation in the OED is from 1943. | From Greek ''akro''- 'tip' and ''-oonym-'' 'name'. The first attestation in the OED is from 1943. | ||
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| + | === Link === | ||
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| + | [http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Acronym&lemmacode=980 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
=== Other languages === | === Other languages === | ||
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*German [[Akronym]] | *German [[Akronym]] | ||
*Russian [[акроним]] | *Russian [[акроним]] | ||
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{{dc}} | {{dc}} | ||
[[Category:Word formation]] | [[Category:Word formation]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Morphology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Writing]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:23, 12 February 2009
An acronym is an abbreviation consisting of initial letters that are read like an ordinary word.
Examples
English radar (pronounced [ˈreɪdɑɹ] ), from radio detection and ranging.
The English acronyms NATO, FOP and FEC are made out of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, First Order Principle and Free Element Condition, respectively. Some Dutch examples are: TROS, KNAV and DAF.
Comments
Acronyms contrast with alphabetisms, which are pronounced with the names of the letters (e.g. CD, HTML).
Polysemy
Sometimes acronym is used for abbreviations more generally, i.e. also for alphabetisms.
Origin
From Greek akro- 'tip' and -oonym- 'name'. The first attestation in the OED is from 1943.
Link
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics
