A term that can refer to a tiny enterprise, a broadcast modulation method, a standby voltage line on a computer motherboard, a Canadian school district, or simply mean visible.
The motherboard’s VSB pin provides 5 V standby power.
Parents can enroll their children through the VSB portal.
Engineers chose VSB to reduce interference in the broadcast.
Her smile was VSB to all the guests.
Our startup qualifies as a VSB under the new tax guidelines.
Similar words
band‑suppressed AM
noticeable
micro‑enterprise
ATX standby
band‑limited AM
VSB rail
NTSC modulation
clear
low‑power line
apparent
Meanings
Very small business
business
neutral
A company that operates on a very limited scale, often with few employees and modest revenue.
Examples
Our startup qualifies as a VSB under the new tax guidelines.
Investors are looking for VSB opportunities in niche markets.
The conference featured several VSB founders sharing their stories.
Local government offers grants to VSB owners.
She turned her hobby into a thriving VSB.
Similar words
SMB
micro‑enterprise
startup
boutique firm
niche company
small firm
lean business
Vestigial sideband
technology
technical
A type of amplitude‑modulated transmission that suppresses part of one sideband to save bandwidth while keeping the other sideband intact.
Examples
The old television standard employed VSB for its video carrier.
Engineers chose VSB to reduce interference in the broadcast.
The FCC approved VSB as the preferred modulation for NTSC.
Research compares VSB efficiency against QAM.
A textbook explains the principles of VSB modulation.
Similar words
vestigial sideband modulation
partial sideband
band‑limited AM
NTSC modulation
analog TV modulation
band‑suppressed AM
sideband reduction
Voltage standby
technology
technical
A low‑power line on an ATX motherboard that remains active when the main power is off, allowing the system to be turned on remotely.
Examples
The motherboard’s VSB pin provides 5 V standby power.
A wake‑on‑LAN signal activates the system via the VSB line.
Check the VSB voltage before installing the power supply.
Some fans draw power from the VSB when the PC is off.
The BIOS monitors the VSB to enable soft‑off features.
Similar words
standby voltage
5 VSB
standby rail
power‑off line
ATX standby
VSB rail
low‑power line
Vancouver School Board
education
neutral
The public school district that administers elementary and secondary education in Vancouver, Canada.
Examples
The VSB released its 2024 curriculum updates today.
Parents can enroll their children through the VSB portal.
The VSB budget includes funds for new school construction.
Teachers attended a professional development workshop hosted by the VSB.
The VSB board voted to adopt a new equity policy.
Similar words
school district
public school board
education authority
district board
Vancouver district
BC school board
municipal education
Visible
everyday
neutral
Denoting something that can be seen or is apparent to the eye.
Examples
The logo became VSB after the lights were turned on.
During the test, the defect was VSB on the monitor.
The trail markers are VSB even at night.
Her smile was VSB to all the guests.
The watermark makes the image VSB against the background.
Similar words
apparent
observable
clear
evident
conspicuous
noticeable
perceptible
Etymology
First recorded in the mid‑20th century as an initialism formed from the initial letters of the expanded phrase, later adopted for various unrelated expansions.
FAQ
What does VSB stand for in business?
VSB stands for very small business, a micro‑enterprise with limited staff and revenue.
How is VSB used in radio communications?
In broadcasting, VSB refers to vestigial sideband modulation, a bandwidth‑saving form of AM transmission.
What is the VSB voltage rail on a motherboard?
It is the voltage standby line that supplies low power when the computer is off, enabling features like wake‑on‑LAN.
Which organization does VSB refer to in Canada?
VSB is the Vancouver School Board, the public authority that runs K‑12 schools in Vancouver.
Can VSB mean “visible” in everyday language?
Rarely; some dictionaries list visible as a meaning, but the abbreviation is not commonly used that way.
How do I know which VSB meaning applies in a sentence?
Look at the surrounding context: business terms point to very small business, technical jargon to vestigial sideband or voltage standby, and geographic references to the Vancouver School Board.
Is VSB pronounced as letters or as a word?
It is normally spoken as the individual letters V‑S‑B (/ˌviː ɛs ˈbiː/).
Where did the abbreviation VSB originate?
The initialism first appeared in the mid‑20th century, created by taking the first letters of the phrase it expands.
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