lcd

IPA/ˌel siː ˈdiː/
IPA/ˌel siː ˈdiː/

lcd — noun

  • lcdsingular
  • lcdsplural

1. a thin, flat screen used in televisions, computer monitors, phones, and other de

1.nounB1
Definition

a thin, flat screen used in televisions, computer monitors, phones, and other devices. A special liquid inside the screen changes when electricity passes through it, creating the images you see.

Example

Tuan bought a new LCD monitor for his computer desk at home.

collocation: LCD monitor

The thin LCD screen on her phone cracked when she dropped it.

collocation: LCD screen

Common collocations
  • LCD screen
  • LCD monitor
  • LCD display
  • LCD television
  • LCD panel
  • LCD model
Synonyms
  • flat-screen

    describes the thin, rectangular shape of an LCD display; used as an adjective (flat-screen TV)

  • digital display

    broader term that covers LCD and other screen technologies such as LED and OLED

Usage Note

In everyday use, LCD refers to the flat-screen display technology found in televisions, computers, and phones. Do not confuse this with the mathematics abbreviation LCD (least common denominator) described in sense 2.

Common Mistakes

I damaged the LCD of the TV.
I damaged the LCD screen on the TV.
'LCD' alone is not the physical screen; add 'screen', 'display', or 'monitor' to refer to the physical part.

2. the smallest number that can be evenly divided by the bottom numbers (denominato

2.nounB2
Definition

the smallest number that can be evenly divided by the bottom numbers (denominators) of two or more fractions, used when adding or comparing them.

Example

To add these two fractions, first find the LCD of the denominators.

math usage: find the LCD of [denominators]

The teacher asked the class to calculate the LCD of twelve and eighteen.

Common collocations
  • LCD of [numbers]
  • find the LCD
  • calculate the LCD
  • common denominator
Synonyms

Usage Note

In mathematics, LCD stands for 'least common denominator' (also called 'lowest common denominator'). Do not confuse this with the electronics term LCD (liquid crystal display) described in sense 1. The two meanings belong to completely different subjects.

Common Mistakes

The LCD of 3, 5, and 7 is 1.
The least common denominator of 3, 5, and 7 is 105.
When a group of denominators share no common factors, the LCD is their product, not 1.
The LCD of 3/4 and 5/6 is 24.
The LCD of 3/4 and 5/6 is 12.
12 is the smallest number that both 4 and 6 divide into evenly.

Word family

  • LCD screen
    nounB1
  • LCD monitor
    nounB1
  • liquid crystal display
    nounB1
  • least common denominator
    nounB2
  • lowest common denominator
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

LCD (liquid crystal display) describes a specific screen technology using liquid crystals and a backlight. A flat-screen is any thin display — most flat-screens today are either LCD or LED (which is actually a type of LCD with a different backlight). LED displays are usually brighter and more energy-efficient than older LCD models. Digital display is the broadest term, covering LCD, LED, OLED, and even older technologies like plasma. When shopping for a television, people often say 'flat-screen TV' to describe the shape, whereas 'LCD TV' describes the internal technology. For example, 'The store sold both LCD and LED flat-screen televisions.'

LCD screenflat-screen ↗LED displaydigital display

Etymology

English

LCD is an initialism formed in the late 20th century from the first letters of 'liquid crystal display,' a technology developed in the 1960s and first used in watches and calculators. The mathematical abbreviation comes from 'least (or lowest) common denominator,' a term used in arithmetic since the 19th century. Both abbreviations happen to share the same three letters but developed independently in different fields.

First known use

1973

1973, in the meaning defined above