TLC

What Does TLC Mean in a Text?

The Growing Glossary of Dating Slang

If you're new to online dating, then I'm afraid there is whole new language with well over 250 terms for you to learn.

Particularly since the rise of the iKids, people have been far more open about their sexual preferences and desires, and this has generated a long glossary of new dating terms. Many sexual preferences are still abbreviated on dating sites, presumably with the idea that those who do not understand the term do not need to know it. That thinking does not help newcomers though. Here is the term you're looking for:

TLC means "Tender Loving Care."

More Observations...

It is also the name of an American Girl Band and the IATA Code for Toluca International Airport.

Tender Loving Care

The abbreviation TLC refers to the attention given to a person to lift their spirits or to promote their recovery from accident or illness. If an object is described as needing TLC, it usually means it is in a state of disrepair and requires renovation.

American Girl Band

TLC is also the name of an American girl R&B band, formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1991. The band's name was based on the first initial of the nickname of the original line-up: Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. TLC were very successful during the 1990s, achieving nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100. They released their fifth (and final) album "TLC" in 2017. (Check out the video below of their 2010 number-one hit "Waterfalls.")

Toluca International Airport

TLC is also the IATA code for Toluca International Airport, Mexico.

TLC - Waterfalls (Official Music Video)

Image for TLC

When I write TLC, I mean this:

TLC also is also the code for Toluca International Airport and the name of a girl band.

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

TLC
Definition:	Tender Loving Care
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for TLC

TLC is also the Name of an American Girl Band.

TLC
Definition:	American Girl Band
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition for TLC

TLC is also the IATA code for Toluca International Airport.

TLC
Definition:	Toluca International Airport
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

Examples of TLC in Sentences

Here are examples of TLC in conversations, with the meaning "Tender Loving care:"

Louis: Your car is just a heap of dirt and rust.
Will: Don't be so mean. It just needs a little TLC, that's all.

Helena: I hate my life! I just want to go to bed an never wake up.
Babs: Sounds like you need some TLC. I'll be there in five minutes.

An Academic Look at TLC

TLC is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Tee Ell See"). Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words.