DSO
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Days sales outstanding |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Business & Finance, Science & Engineering, Military, Education & Academia |
DSO has five meanings. The most common are Days sales outstanding (finance) and Deep-sky object (astronomy & Space); it can also stand for Digital storage oscilloscope, Distinguished Service Order and Designated school official.
Meanings of DSO at a glance
| # | DSO stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Days sales outstanding | Business & Finance › Finance |
| 2 | Deep-sky object | Science & Engineering › Astronomy & Space |
| 3 | Digital storage oscilloscope | Science & Engineering › Electronics & Electrical |
| 4 | Distinguished Service Order | Military › Military Award and Decoration |
| 5 | Designated school official | Education & Academia › Academic |
1. Days sales outstanding
Business & Finance · Finance Abbreviations
Average number of days a company takes to collect payment after a sale, calculated as accounts receivable divided by revenue, multiplied by the number of days in the period. Lower DSO means faster collections and less cash tied up in receivables.
Example: DSO crept up to 58 days as two large customers stretched their payments.
A DSO well above the company's standard terms, say 60 days against net 30, suggests collection problems. Rising DSO alongside rising revenue can also be a warning sign of aggressive revenue recognition. DSO is one of the three components of the cash conversion cycle.
2. Deep-sky object
Science & Engineering · Astronomy & Space Abbreviations
Amateur astronomy term for celestial objects beyond the solar system other than individual stars: galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and similar targets. Observers hunt DSOs from dark sites, and astrophotographers stack long exposures to reveal their faint detail.
Example: The Orion Nebula is the easiest DSO to spot with binoculars in winter.
Many DSOs carry Messier (M) or New General Catalogue (NGC) numbers. A "Messier marathon," possible on a few spring nights each year, attempts to observe all 110 Messier objects in one night. Light pollution affects DSO observing far more than viewing the Moon and planets.
3. Digital storage oscilloscope
Science & Engineering · Electronics & Electrical Abbreviations
Oscilloscope that digitizes input signals and stores them in memory, displaying voltage over time on a screen and allowing capture of single events, measurements and analysis. DSOs have largely replaced analog oscilloscopes.
Example: The DSO captured a 20-nanosecond glitch on the clock line using a single-shot trigger.
Key specifications are bandwidth, sample rate and memory depth; a rule of thumb is to choose bandwidth at least five times the highest signal frequency of interest. Mixed-signal oscilloscopes (MSOs) add digital logic channels. Older analog scopes were often called CROs, after their cathode-ray tubes.
4. Distinguished Service Order
Military · Military Award and Decoration Abbreviations
British military order recognizing leadership during active operations, historically awarded mainly to majors and above for distinguished service under fire. Recipients add DSO after their names.
Example: Lieutenant Colonel Smith DSO commanded the battle group in Helmand.
Instituted in 1886 by Queen Victoria. Since 1993 gallantry has been recognized by other awards, and the DSO is now given for leadership. A second award is shown with a bar.
5. Designated school official
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
University staff member authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to maintain international students' SEVIS records, issue I-20 forms, approve CPT and recommend OPT. Each school designates a principal DSO (PDSO) and other DSOs.
Example: Email the DSO before dropping a class to make sure you stay in status.
DSOs usually work in an international student and scholar services office. J-1 programs have equivalent roles called responsible officers (RO and ARO). Students should notify a DSO within 10 days of moving.
Related abbreviations
More finance abbreviations
- DIO – Days inventory outstanding
- DPI – Distributions to paid-in capital
- DPO – Days payable outstanding
- DSCR – Debt service coverage ratio
- EAR – Effective annual rate
- ECM – Equity capital markets
- ERP – Equity risk premium
- ESOP – Employee stock ownership plan
See all 88 finance abbreviations →