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Central Business District. It's what Aussies (like myself) and Kiwis call "downtown", or the city-centre.

• Reason077 10y ago
  "CBD" is used in some Asian and Middle-Eastern countries too. But I've never seen it used in Europe or the Americas.
  • cstejerean 10y ago
    I've heard the term used in London as well. But never in the US. I first ran across it when I lived in Australia, so I wonder if it's a British term.
    • sanswork 10y ago
      It's possible it's an Australian term and you were just surrounded by Australians in London.
      • ascorbic 10y ago
        Yes. I've never heard anyone use it in the UK except Aussies and Kiwis.
  • saryant 10y ago
    Houston uses it occasionally. Probably picked it up from all the oil expats in town.
  • TulliusCicero 10y ago
    I've heard it used in wonky circles, and if you pronounce the whole thing instead of the acronym people know what you mean.
    • dankohn1 10y ago
      New York City is unusual for having two different CBDs, with midtown being denser than downtown (but each are denser than anywhere else in the US).