Acronym:
[size=-1]NOUN:[/size]A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.
(Emphasis added)
From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition.
Frequently misused to describe any abbreviation or initialism. "Acronym" properly refers to a word. "Scuba" (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) is an acronym; "SPC" is not.
[size=-1]NOUN:[/size]A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.
(Emphasis added)
From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition.
Frequently misused to describe any abbreviation or initialism. "Acronym" properly refers to a word. "Scuba" (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) is an acronym; "SPC" is not.