Guide to the Use of the Dictionary

1) Abbreviations not used

a) In view of the fact that this is meant to be exclusively a Dictionary of acronyms, ini- tialisms, abbreviations, symbols, codes, none of the fields or subfields covered by the Dictionary has been put in abbreviated form.
For example: com.prog. for Computer Programming;
geod. for Geodesy; med. for Medicine, etc.

b) In addition, the usual abbreviations, such as esp. for especially, or ab. for about, have not been abbreviated.

2) When the fields are not mentioned
In certain cases the fields or subfields to which the acronym or initialism refers to has not been mentioned. This is because it is obvious or can be derived.
For example: AGI - American Geological Institute
In this case it is obvious that the field is Geology and therefore there is no need to mention it.
Or, UPVG: Utility PhotoVoltaic Group
In this case it can easily be derived that it refers to Photovoltaics

3) When the same acronym/initialism relates to many fields
When the acronym, initialism or abbreviation is used in several contexts all of the fields and subfields have been mentioned.
For example: a. (abbr.) absolute
Chemistry; Physics; Thermodynamics
AC Anchor Cell
Cell Biology; Molecular Medicine; Signal Transduction

4) When the acronym is purposely coined with a meaning
When the acronym or initialism has been coined purposely with a meaning, this has been brought to the attention of the person consulting the dictionary.
For example: PAWS - Progressive Animal Welfare Society
paws actually meaning: the foot of an animal

HOPE Health Opportunity for People Everywhere
It is obvious why they have used the word "hope" in the acronym

STRESS Structural Engineering System Solver
In this case it is significative that they have used the word "Stress"

ESPRIT - European Strategic Program for Research and development in Information Technology
esprit actually means in French: mind, intellect, talent, intelligence, brains.

HANUL High-energy Astrophysics Neutrino Laboratory (South Korea)
In Korean, the word “hanul” means: sky

GUTs - Grand Unified Theories
Surely, it is not a coincidence that the word "guts" has been used to coin the acronym

5) When the acronym accidentally means something in another language
It may happen that the acronym or initialism accidentally means something in another language. Also in this case it has been brought to your attention as it is only fair that you should know for instance that:

SEM - Scanning Electron Microscopy
sem actually means in Arabic: poison

AVIS - Audiovisual Information System
avis actually means in French: notice, opinion, advice, judgement, counsel, etc.

ASTI - Association for Science, Technology and Innovation
Asti - The name of an Italian town

BOIA - Bureau Of Indian Affairs
boia actually means in Italian: executioner

6) Acronyms/initialisms with explanations or additional information
When deemed necessary, besides the definition, an explanation of the acronym or initialism or details that may interest the person consulting the Dictionary, have been added.
For example: BESTEST - Building Energy Simulation Test: is a new diagnostic method to improve the accuracy of computer energy software programs

PMMA - Polymethyl Methacrylate: used mainly in lighting fixtures and surgical appliances

ACM - Association for Computing Machinery: is located in Washington D.C. (U.S.A.).

US Pharm. - U.S. Pharmacopoeia: The first one was published in the U.S.A. in 1820

PEMFC - Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
European Commisssion 5th FP
For further details see under: 5FP

PLANMAN Project After a brief description the date: Launched in September 1996

MMA After the expansion: A 1998 U.S. Project

MPS After the expansion: The Italian MPS was founded in 1472

MPS Materials Processing in Space
Conducted by NASA ever since the late 1960s

7) The importance of mentioning the fields/subfields

1) In many cases you will find that there are, besides the standard fields and subfields, also additional ones. This is because I have added them as research progresses and/or according to technological developments in that particular field.

2) In other cases it is important to know the field, as a person not conversant with the subject may be misled.
For instance: TV - Tidal Volume relates to Physiology and has nothing to do with tides.

PMD - Postmortem Dump: has nothing to do with the paraphernalia of a deceased person, but as you will see refers to Computer Programming

PH - Purpleheart does not relate to medicine or anatomy but is a type of wood to make furniture, so it goes under "Materials"

8) When the definition of an acronym is known with another name

When the definition of an acronym / initialism is known with another name, this has been mentioned.
For example: PC - Program Counter
Computer Technology
Program counter is also known as: Control counter or register; instruction counter or register; sequence counter or register

PMN granulocyte
Immunology
Polymorphonuclear granulocyte is also known as: Neutrophil

VP - Vapor Pressure
Meteorology
Vapor Pressure is also known as: Vapor Tension

9) Cross-references

Whenever applicable cross-references have been used.
For example: P Pascal
For further details see under "Pa."

W Wait Time
For further details see under: "WT" (Waiting Time)

10) NATO acronyms/initialisms/abbreviations
NATO acronyms/initialisms/abbreviations are according to their AAP-15 (2003). Underneath each one you will find the equivalent in French if it has been coined in English, and in English if it has been coined in French. This is because English and French are the two official languages of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

11) Punctuation and Capitalization

Acronyms usually do not have periods after each letter, and even though initialisms do have them, this practice is rapidly declining. The use of capital, lowercase or a combination of both is also controversial.

Therefore, since the use of punctuation and capitalization in acronyms and initialisms has never been universally agreed upon, I have used in this Dictionary the most commonly adopted form.

When both forms - with periods and without periods - are used, they have been indicated.

For example: AA or A.A. Author's Alteration
AAA or A.A.A. American Association of Anatomists

12) Why the use of the English language

a) Because the practice of coining acronyms and initialisms prevails in the English language.

b) Because English, besides being the native language of Great Britain, the United States, Canada and other countries, is also the second language most widely used in the world. As a matter of fact it is used by over 1000 million people around the world.

c) Because it has the role of international language: in the Computer field; in Science, Technology and...