An acronym is a word derived from the initial letters or groups of letters of several other words.
Popular examples are:
Laser, from "light amplification by
stimulated emission of radition",
Radar, from "radio detecting and
ranging" or snafu, which should politely be rendered
as "situation normal, all fouled
up".
The word acronym itself derives from the greek words akros "the highest, the most outer" and onyma "name".
Please note that acronyms are always pronounced as the spelling indicates.
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