Meaning & use
CVC
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Meanings
abbreviationcountabletechnical
Short for consonant-vowel-consonant, the pattern of a short word like cat, dog or sun that young children learn to read.
Grammar: Used as a noun or before a noun: a CVC word, CVC patterns.
Patterns
- CVC word
- CVC pattern
The teacher began the lesson with CVC words such as pin and mug.
Children learn to blend sounds in simple CVC patterns.
Hat and bed are both CVC words, but they have different vowels.
abbreviationcountabletechnical
Short for card verification code, the three or four digit security number on a payment card used for online purchases.
Grammar: Used as a noun: enter the CVC.
Patterns
- enter the CVC
- CVC on the back of the card
Type the CVC from the back of your card to complete the payment.
The website rejected my order because I entered the wrong CVC.
Never share your CVC with anyone who calls you.
Word forms
| plural | CVCs |
|---|
Common combinations
- CVC words
- Children read CVC words before longer ones.
- CVC pattern
- Cat follows a CVC pattern.
- enter the CVC
- Enter the CVC to confirm the purchase.
- three-digit CVC
- A three-digit CVC is printed on the back of most cards.
- CVC code
- The shop asked for my CVC code.
Synonyms and how they differ
- CVV
- It is the card security number under another name, used especially by American card companies.
- security code
- It is the plain-English name for the card check number and is understood by everyone.
- CSC
- It stands for card security code and is used on some forms instead of CVC.
Word family
Commonly confused: CVC or CCV?
CVC vs CCV
CCV is consonant-consonant-vowel, as in the word tree. CVC is consonant-vowel-consonant.
Practice
Which word follows the CVC pattern?
Choose one answer.
Cat is consonant, vowel, consonant. Milk has two consonants at the end, so it is not a plain CVC word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “CVC”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.