Acronym
An acronym is a word or name formed as an abbreviation from the initial components in a phrase or a word, usually individual letters (as in NATO or laser) and sometimes syllables (as in Benelux).
There are no universal standards of the multiple names for such abbreviations and of their orthographic styling. In English and most other languages, such abbreviations historically had limited use, but they became much more common in the 20th century. Acronyms are a type of word formation process, and they are viewed as a subtype of blending.
Acronym (noun)
An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words, sometimes exclusively such abbreviations when pronounced as a word (as “laser”) rather than as individual letters (initialisms such as “TNT”).
Acronym (noun)
An abbreviation formed by the beginning letters or syllables of other words (as “Benelux”).
Acronym (verb)
To form into an acronym
Anacronym (noun)
An acronym the original meaning of which is not known to most speakers.
Acronym (noun)
an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA).
Anacronym (noun)
an acronym of which the constituent letters are taken from words that are unfamiliar to most people (e.g. Nicam, scuba).