English Reference
noun

CDC

n.
US /ˌsiˌdiˈsi/ cdc

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Medicine

    Stands for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the main government agency in the US that protects public health and safety.

    Abbreviation for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services that monitors and prevents disease outbreaks.

    Simple

    The CDC issued new guidelines to help people stay healthy during the winter flu season.

    In context

    During the pandemic, the CDC became a central source of epidemiological data and public health recommendations for the entire country.

    Usage

    Usually used with 'the' as in 'the CDC'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced TechnicalFormal Cooking

    Stands for chef de cuisine. This is the person in charge of a professional kitchen.

    Abbreviation for chef de cuisine. The head of a kitchen in a restaurant or hotel, responsible for managing staff and creating menus.

    Simple

    After ten years of training, he finally earned the title of CDC at a famous restaurant.

    In context

    The CDC oversees the daily operations of the kitchen, ensuring that every dish meets the restaurant's high standards before it reaches the customer.

    Usage

    Commonly used in professional culinary resumes and job descriptions.

    head chef
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    Stands for change data capture. It is a way for computers to track and record changes made to a database.

    Abbreviation for change data capture. A set of software design patterns used to determine and track the data that has changed in a database.

    Simple

    The IT team used CDC to make sure the backup server always had the latest information.

    In context

    Implementing CDC allowed the company to synchronize their cloud storage with their local database in real-time without slowing down the system.

    Usage

    Used as an uncountable noun in technical contexts.

The CDC recently declared watercress a nutrient powerhouse.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

Last week, Kaseya said officials were worried the virus could be mutating and that the Africa CDC was planning further studies with the WHO to investigate.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated