BNF
1
8.8
- noun
- /biː ɛn ɛf/
- Specialized
- For detailed information about prescription medicines, consult the BNF for guidance.
Examples
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Antileukotrienes may help with rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, and itchy eyes (see BNF). SELF-CARE
Academic text (2011) -
Details can be found in the BNF Section 2.9.
Academic text (2012) -
The top fan fiction writers, site owners, spoiler junkies, fan artists, and other BNFs were predominantly female.
Blog text (10) -
A number of oral antihistamines are available, including preparations that are non-sedating. Suitability for use in children varies according to age and from product to product, so prescribers should consult the BNF to identify those that are indicated for the individual child.
Academic text (2012) -
Topical antihistamines such as azelastine 0.05% can produce symptomatic relief (see BNF). Corticosteroids
Academic text (2011) -
Healthcare professionals rely on the BNF to ensure safe and effective medication prescribing.
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The syntax rules for programming languages can be accurately described using BNF notation.
Surface Forms
Morphology
BNF = B + N + F
BNF is an initialism/acronym whose letters stand for a multiword phrase (e.g., Backus-Naur Form or British National Formulary) and the letters are not productive English morphemes, so the form gives no transparent clue to meaning.
Etymology
BNF can mean two things in English: Backus-Naur Form or the British National Formulary. Backus-Naur Form is named after two people and the word Form means 'a way to write', so it is a simple system to 'write' the rules of a computer language, while the British National Formulary is a book doctors use to look up and 'prescribe' medicines.