Abbreviated Coded Rendition of Name Yielding Meaning.

acronym, ak' ru · nim, noun.
(Greek Orgin--derived from the word "acro" and "onoma".)

The word "acronym" is derived/formed from the initial letters/syllables -- as radar -- " Radio Detecting and Ranging."

An abbreviation for a phrase created by taking the first letter or so of each word, AND is pronounced as a word itself.

A word coined from the first letters of other words. Many idiots confuse abbreviations with acronyms (and vise versa). Others think it's the actual letters in abbreviations/acronyms that are acronyms. They should learn how to read a dictionary, take an English class, and/or stop their pseudo-intellectual tendencies.

(Abbreviations are just shortenings of words. Remember, the words, abbreviation and acronym, are never the letters themselves, albeit the letters are core components of these words.)

A string of letters that stand for something
Also used as an excuse to pass chatspeak off as 'Acceptable'

A sortening of words by taking the first letters of each and making it a word. Ussually a company name. However it is useless to say them outloud-save it for writing!

NOT AN ABRIVIATION!!!! an acronym is when a phrase is put together by joining the first letters of each word and an abriviation is when u shorten a word(not a phrase) cuz your fingers are to retarted to type. (and or hands/write)