LCD
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Liquid-crystal display |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Units & Measurements, Medical |
LCD has three meanings. The most common are Liquid-crystal display (electronics & electrical) and Least common denominator (math); it can also stand for Local coverage determination.
Meanings of LCD at a glance
| # | LCD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liquid-crystal display | Science & Engineering › Electronics & Electrical |
| 2 | Least common denominator | Units & Measurements › Math |
| 3 | Local coverage determination | Medical › Health Insurance |
1. Liquid-crystal display
Science & Engineering · Electronics & Electrical Abbreviations · also used in technology
Flat-panel display that uses liquid crystals between polarizing filters to block or pass light from a backlight, pixel by pixel, with color filters creating full color. LCDs are used in TVs, monitors, laptops, calculators, watches and car dashboards.
Example: The digital watch's LCD shows the time continuously using only microwatts of power.
Austrian botanist Friedrich Reinitzer discovered liquid crystals in 1888, and RCA researchers led by George Heilmeier built early LCDs in the 1960s; the twisted nematic design of the early 1970s made them practical, and Sharp used them in pocket calculators from 1973. Because LCDs need a backlight, blacks are less deep than on OLED screens. "LED TV" usually means an LCD with LED backlighting.
2. Least common denominator
Units & Measurements · Math Abbreviations
The smallest number that can serve as a common denominator for a set of fractions, equal to the least common multiple of the denominators. The LCD of 1/4 and 1/6 is 12.
Example: Rewrite 1/4 + 1/6 using the LCD: 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12.
Also called the lowest common denominator, a phrase that has entered everyday English to mean appealing to the broadest, least discerning audience. Any common denominator gives the right answer, but the LCD keeps the numbers smallest. In electronics, LCD means liquid-crystal display.
3. Local coverage determination
Medical · Health Insurance Abbreviations
Decision by a Medicare Administrative Contractor about whether a service is reasonable and necessary, and therefore covered, in its jurisdiction, often listing qualifying diagnoses and documentation requirements. LCDs fill gaps where no national coverage determination exists.
Example: The LCD requires two failed conservative treatments before covering the injection.
LCDs go through public comment and can differ between regions, so the same service may be covered differently in different states. Billing articles attached to LCDs list the ICD-10 codes that support medical necessity. In electronics LCD means liquid crystal display.
Related abbreviations
More electronics & electrical abbreviations
- IF – Intermediate frequency
- IGBT – Insulated-gate bipolar transistor
- JFET – Junction field-effect transistor
- JTAG – Joint Test Action Group
- LCR – Inductance, capacitance and resistance (meter)
- LDO – Low-dropout regulator
- LDR – Light-dependent resistor
- LED – Light-emitting diode
See all 82 electronics & electrical abbreviations →
More math abbreviations
- IVT – Intermediate value theorem
- K – Thousand
- ker – Kernel
- lb – Binary logarithm
- LCM – Least common multiple
- lg – Logarithm (base 10 or base 2)
- LHS – Left-hand side
- lim – Limit
See all 91 math abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.