abc

noun

1. (US, countable, plural, uncountable, usually)The English alphabet.

   “Do you know your ABC? (US: Do you know your ABCs?)”

2. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)A type of poem in which the lines start with the letters of the alphabet in order.
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)A primer for teaching the Latin alphabet and first elements of reading.
4. (countable, uncountable)The fundamentals of any subject.

   “the ABC of finance”

   “This was the Alma Mater of the Brigade, where it learned its A B C of military tactics.”

   “At the same time I was endeavoring to learn the a-b-c of farming. It is not the kind of thing that is easily learned from books.”

   “With her expert guidance, even a novice like me can have a taste of the focused, structured world of a Cunningham dance. The solo is possibly his plainest, almost an ABC of his meticulous approach to subdividing the body in motion — twist, bend, reach, step.”

5. (countable, uncountable)A straightforward, uniform playing style, often focusing on betting for value, folding weak hands, and avoiding bluffing.
6. (UK, countable, uncountable)A British alphabetized guidebook listing trains and their stations.

   “"That will do. How are the trains for Netherhempsfield?" Greatorex put down the notebook and took up an "ABC."”

   “For this reason his heart sank when, emerging from his study into the great hall at quarter to eleven, he met Beaver already dressed and prepared to be entertained; it was only a momentary vexation, however, for while he wished him good morning he noticed that his guest had an A.B.C. in his hands and was clearly looking out a train.”

7. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, regional, uncountable)Ellipsis of ABC store.
8. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, mnemonic, uncountable)Initialism of airway, breathing and circulation, the essential steps in the immediate assessment and treatment of critically ill or injured patients.

   “I run my hands over his chest, assessing his ABCs: airway, breathing, circulation.”

9. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of alcoholic beverage control.

   “Pennsylvania is one of 18 alcoholic beverage control states, commonly known as “ABC states.” In an ABC state, the state government controls the sale and distribution of various alcoholic beverages, depending on state law.”

10. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, derogatory, initialism, sometimes, uncountable)Initialism of American-born Chinese.

    “Everyone was Chinese. Some of the students were ABCs. That means "American-born Chinese." Others were FOBs. FOB means "fresh off the boat" and it is a bad insult. I didn't feel prejudiced about the FOBs because I was one of them.”

11. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of Australian-born Chinese.

    “Many argue, with justice, that the differences between the various groups of Chinese-Australians are such that it is impossible to speak in terms of a "cultural identity" common to them all (Ang 2001). On the other hand, the mainstream culture is rarely capable of making such distinctions: in the eyes of most Australians, there is little difference between an ABC (Australian-born Chinese), an ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, or a mainlander.”

12. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of activity-based costing.

    “Activity-based costing is a powerful control tool. With ABC, the manager can access all departments and monitor the costs associated with any activity he or she wants to control.”

13. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of advance base camp.

    “Boga and Subhash with Sherpa Nim Dorje and Kedar Singh left early to open a route to advance base camp. […] They proceeded south along the left bank of the glacier. They could avoid the moraines by climbing the slopes near the bank. It was a long march and they established ABC at 4877 m on a small open rocky ground.”

14. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of ATP-binding cassette.

    “ABC transporter”

    “ABC-transporters are multispan membrane proteins that mediate the active uptake or efflux of specific substrates across various biological membrane systems. A functional ABC-transporter protein usually consists of two transmembrane domains and two ABCs.”

15. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of antigen-binding capacity.
16. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of age-associated B cell.

    “Together, these findings indicate that CD21/35⁻CD23⁻ B cells do not correspond to any previously defined B-cell subset, but share some characteristics with exhausted B cells. Because they emerge and may eventually predominate with age, we have termed them age-associated B cells (ABCs).”

17. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of aneurysmal bone cyst.

    “In the long bones, spine, and flat bones, the majority of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are eccentrically located whereas in the short tubular bones they are usually central in location. […] About 15% of all giant cell tumors have cystic areas that resemble ABC, and in about one third of all ABCs a pre-existing lesion can be identified.”

18. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of adenoid basal cell carcinoma.
19. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, uncountable)Abbreviation of abacavir.
20. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of accelerated blood clearance.
21. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of Atanasoff-Berry computer.
22. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of artificial bee colony.
23. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of assignment for the benefit of creditors.

    “Like foreclosure, an assignment for the benefit of creditors (ABC) is a creature of state law. ABCs have long been popular in a few states, most notably California and Illinois, but they are beginning to gain traction in other states as a less expensive alternative to bankruptcy.”

24. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of absorbing boundary condition.

    “As a matter of fact, when numerically handling a model originally established on an unbounded domain, it is compulsory to impose the pertinent ABC to terminate the endless mesh while retaining a well-posed and stable simulation.”

25. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of abstract base class.

    “Abstract base classes (ABCs) represent an interesting paradox. […] It is instructive to think of ABCs as tools rather than as part of the product.”

    “Most ABCs in the collections.abc module exist to formalize interfaces that are implemented by built-in objects and are implicitly supported by the interpreter—both of which predate the ABCs themselves.”

26. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of adventure-based counseling.

    “Creatively integrating counseling theory, research, and best practices has afforder me the opportunity to constructively engage clients in adventure-based counseling (ABC) activities that foster social, mental, and emotional development. Utilizing ABC as an innovative counseling approach for individuals, families, and groups has increased my enthusiasm as a counselor.”

27. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of affect, behavior, and cognition.
28. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of alien big cat.
29. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of active body control.
30. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, informal, initialism, uncountable)Initialism of Archbishop of Canterbury.
31. (uncountable)A keyboard layout in which all keys are arranged in alphabetical order in English.

name

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of American Broadcasting Company, an American commercial broadcast television network founded in 1943.

   ““The cost of appearing with this bloviating ignoramus is obvious, it seems to me,” he said on “This Week,” the ABC News program.”

2. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

   “One of the terrorists who carried out the shooting attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah party was likely a Muslim man of Pakistani origin, a senior law enforcement official told ABC News. The man's name is Naveed Akram, from Bonnyrigg, and his house had been raided.”

3. (abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism)Initialism of Australian Broadcasting Company.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism)Initialism of Australian Broadcasting Commission.
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Asahi Broadcasting Corporation.
6. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Agricultural Bank of China.
7. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Audit Bureau of Circulations.
8. (UK, abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism)Initialism of Aerated Bread Company, which ran a network of shops and cafeterias.

   “It was not worth while to go back to Barnes for the interval between the closing of the Museum and his meal in an ABC shop, and the time hung heavily on his hands.”

   “He turned into an A.B.C. shop and ordered eggs and bacon and coffee.”

9. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Advance Booking Charter.
10. (abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism)Initialism of Asian Basketball Confederation.

    “The first was the Asian Games, held every 4 years, and the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC), held every 2 years.”

    “The most memorable championship of his life, the 1967 ABC (now Fiba Asia), was also the most dramatic for the Philippines in the entire 1960s.”

    “The now FIBA Asia Cup was previously called as the FIBA Asia Championships and the older Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championships.”

    “Former PBA players pay final respects to Danny Florencio in his final journey home But Florencio would cement his place in local basketball history as the hero in the Philippines’ dramatic 83-80 win over South Korea for the 1967 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship (now known as the FIBA-Asia).”

11. (abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism)Initialism of American Bowling Congress.
12. (abbreviation, alt-of, attributive, initialism, often)Initialism of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, the three most powerful and wealthiest countries in South America.

    “ABC countries”

13. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano do Sul, satellite cities around the city of São Paulo that form the most important industrial area in Brazil.
14. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad.
15. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of American Book Center, an English-language bookstore in Amsterdam founded in 1972.

    “The American Book Center in Amsterdam is home to one of the largest collections of English literature in continental Europe. Its rickety shelves, spread over four floors, are crammed with American masterpieces from the likes of Hemmingway and Flannery O’Connor. If non-fiction is more your buzz, there are dozens of lavishly illustrated books on subjects such as art and design. ABC also runs The Treehouse, a series of events designed to nourish literary souls from the roots upwards.”

    “In addition to sharing American-style storytelling with audiences throughout Finland and France, including a featured presentation at the ELSA conference in Paris this month, Marblehead storyteller Judith Black will be helping to organize and host a story slam at ABC Treehouse, an institution that promotes and supports intercultural exploration in Amsterdam.”

    “The American Book Center – a part of Amsterdam's book scene for 41 years – has embraced the latest in book technology. Lynn Kaplanian Buller has been involved with the ABC almost since its launch in 1972, adding a second store in The Hague in 1976.”

16. An imperative general-purpose programming language, intended for teaching or prototyping.
17. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Anglican Book Centre, the publishing house and bookshop of the Anglican Church of Canada until 2013.

adj

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable)Initialism of atomic, biological and chemical, the three main categories of weapon of mass destruction.
2. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable, slang)Initialism of already been chewed.

   “She'd chew the gum until she was finished with it for the day and store it in a tiny box in the refrigerator until she wanted another chew. If I accidentally threw out her gum, she was able to find someone else's ABC gum (already been chewed).”

3. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable)Initialism of activated B-cell-like.

phrase

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of anything but Chardonnay, a backlash against Chardonnay wine, seen as ubiquitous.

   “He thought he was up-to-date on all the latest wine lingo until a longtime wine writer returned his sample request card with a bold, hand-written note on it that stated, “Send me all samples—ABC!” ¶ “ABC” threw my friend for a loop. When he called me, I translated the cryptic phrase—ABC is winespeak for “Anything But Chardonnay.””

2. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of abstinence, be faithful, use a condom, a sex education policy developed in response to the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
3. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of always be charging, a recommendation to remember to charge or be left without use by a low battery at an inopportune time.
4. (Canadian, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of anything but Conservative.