"TV"
(Television)
You almost certainly know that "TV" is a common acronym for "television".
Can you turn off the TV?
"AC"
(Air conditioner)
An "AC" is a machine that makes the air cooler in a room or a car.
It's hot! Turn up the AC!
"ATM"
(Automated Teller Machine)
"ATM"s are machines that you can get cash from.
I need to stop at an ATM and get some money.
We use the acronym "ATM" both in writing and in spoken English.
"CD"
(Compact Disk)
"CD"s are round, shiny disks that hold music.
These days I almost never buy CDs. If I like something, I'll stream it.
"DVD"
(Digital Versatile Disk)
"DVD"s are also round, shiny disks, but they hold movies instead of music. There's a newer format called "Blu-ray" that many people use instead of DVDs, but some people still call Blu-ray disks "DVDs".
I used to own that movie on DVD.
UPC"
(Universal product code)
UPCs are the "bar codes" that are attached to products that we buy in stores. Cashiers scan the products' UPCs to find out how much they cost.
Where's the UPC on this thing?
"VR"
(Virtual reality)
"VR" is a new technology that allows you to feel like you're inside of a virtual world.
Have you tried any of those new VR helmets?
"MD"
(Medical doctor)
Someone who's licensed as a doctor is an "MD". Doctors add that to the end of their name:
Janice Lebowski, MD
You can also use "MD" by itself:
Is he an MD or one of these "holistic medicine" practitioners?
"OB/GYN"
(Obstetrician/Gynecologist)
An OB/GYN is a doctor who specializes in childbirth and women's reproductive issues.
Have you seen an OB/GYN yet?
This acronym is made up of two different words, but it's not common to just call someone an "OB" or a "GYN". If you want to specifically talk about a "gynecologist" or an "obstetrician", use the whole word.
"EMT"
(Emergency medical technician)
When you call an ambulance, the people who show up are "EMT"s. They are not doctors, but they're trained to respond to a variety of emergency medical situations.
The EMTs arrived a few minutes after I called.
You might also hear the acronym "EMS", which stands for "Emergency medical service".
"CPR"
(Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
"CPR" is a technique that you can use if someone's heart has stopped and they've stopped breathing. The technique involves pressing on someone's chest several times, and then breathing into their mouth.
I did CPR training once when I was training to be a lifeguard.
"STD"
(Sexually transmitted disease)
An "STD" is a disease that you can get from having sex.
It's important to get tested for STDs if you're sexually active.
"HIV/AIDS"
(Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Disorder)
AIDS is an STD that reduces your body's ability to fight off other diseases and infections. It first started to spread in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
HIV is a condition that precedes AIDS. A person who contracts HIV is likely to get AIDS if they do not receive treatment.
I'm participating in a fundraiser to raise money for HIV and AIDS research.
"ADD"
(Attention Deficit Disorder)
"ADD" is a condition that prevents a person from being able to focus. It's sometimes diagnosed for children who are not able to pay attention in school.
People sometimes use this term to talk about being easily distracted in general.
Sorry, I have ADD today.
"OCD"
(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
"OCD" is a mental condition that causes people to perform some action again and again. For example, some people with OCD will wash their hands many, many times throughout the day, and perhaps even many times in a row.
Like "ADD", "OCD" has made it into everyday English as well as being a medical diagnosis. You can say that someone is "OCD" if they seem to be paying too much attention to details that don't seem important.
He's kind of OCD when it comes to food.
