CUSIP refers to both the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures which acts as the National Numbering Association for North American securities as well as the 9 character alpha-numeric security identifier they issue for the purpose of facilitating trading, clearance and settlement of these securities.  In the case of Apple, Inc. (trading symbol AAPL) , for example, a CUSIP of 037833100 has been assigned to identify this stock.