noun

CVS

see-vee-ESS

CVS (noun) means a large American chain of pharmacies and convenience stores, also operating as a pharmacy benefits and health services company. Example: “I picked up the prescription at the CVS on Main Street.”

noun

A large American chain of pharmacies and convenience stores, also operating as a pharmacy benefits and health services company.

"I picked up the prescription at the CVS on Main Street."

"There is a CVS inside most Target stores."

Chorionic villus sampling: a prenatal test in which a small sample of placental tissue is taken, usually between about 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy, to check the fetus for chromosomal and genetic conditions.

"After the screening result, she was offered CVS rather than waiting for an amniocentesis."

Concurrent Versions System: an early version-control system used by programmers to track changes to source code, now largely replaced by Git.

"The old project is still sitting in a CVS repository nobody has migrated."

How to Use CVS

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually the American pharmacy chain; in medicine, a genetic test done early in pregnancy.

When to use it

Capitalised in all senses. Context makes clear which is meant.

Easily confused with

CVS Health amniocentesis

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

I picked up the prescription at the _____ on Main Street.

Etymology

The retail chain's name comes from Consumer Value Stores. The medical and computing senses are separate initialisms of chorionic villus sampling and Concurrent Versions System.

Origin: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CVS stand for in pharmacy?

The chain began as Consumer Value Stores, and the initials were kept when it became a pharmacy business. The company itself now mostly presents CVS as a brand name rather than an abbreviation.

What is the difference between CVS and amniocentesis?

Both test a pregnancy for genetic conditions, but CVS samples placental tissue and can be done earlier, at roughly 10 to 13 weeks. Amniocentesis samples the amniotic fluid and is usually done from about 15 weeks onwards.