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Pa

//pɑː// adj, name, noun, phrase, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Initialism of posteroanterior. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of Pennsylvania: a state of the United States. abbreviation, alt-of

    "Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit? / Heard about Pittsburgh, PA?"

  2. 2
    Abbreviation of Papua: a province of Indonesia. abbreviation, alt-of
  3. 3
    Abbreviation of Pará: a state of Brazil. abbreviation, alt-of
  4. 4
    Initialism of Palestinian Authority. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "The European Union was more restrained in its support, on the grounds that it would be preferable for Israel to negotiate its withdrawal as part of an agreement with the PA. The PA and Arab governments criticized Sharon for planning to act without consulting them."

  5. 5
    Initialism of Proto-Algonquian (sometimes abbreviated PAn to distinguish it from Proto-Algic, but usually just abbreviated PA with Proto-Algic being abbreviated PAc). abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Initialism of Proto-Algic (sometimes abbreviated PAc to distinguish it from Proto-Algonquian). abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  2. 7
    Initialism of Proto-Athabaskan. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 8
    Initialism of Prince Albert: a city in Saskatchewan, Canada. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Noun
  1. 1
    Initialism of public address. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable

    "“Shuttle sensors detect no communications, heat signatures out of the ordinary, or other signals,” SAM-E said over the shuttle’s PA."

  2. 2
    Father, papa. colloquial
  3. 3
    A fortified Maori settlement, especially of pre-European times. New-Zealand, historical

    "The very existence of fortified pā was often a sign that those who lived near such complexes sought to discourage attack and wanted to make conflict less likely, not more so."

  4. 4
    Father, dad, papa. informal, uncountable

    "Hey, Pa, I'd like you to meet my friend."

  5. 5
    an electronic amplification system used as a communication system in public areas wordnet
Show 22 more definitions
  1. 6
    Initialism of production assistant. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  2. 7
    Grandpa, grandfather. colloquial
  3. 8
    Any Maori village or settlement; a kainga. New-Zealand
  4. 9
    A short form of grandpa; grandfather. uncountable
  5. 10
    an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk wordnet
  6. 11
    Initialism of personal assistant. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable

    "Jen: Douglas has asked me to be his PA. Moss: Oh. My. God! Well, that is something and a half. His PA? How... Whoa! His PA... Shut up! His PA! Jen: It means "personal assistant". Moss: Thank you. Right, OK."

  7. 12
    a unit of pressure equal to one newton per square meter wordnet
  8. 13
    Initialism of personal appearance (when a celebrity visits a public event). abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  9. 14
    a short-lived radioactive metallic element formed from uranium and disintegrating into actinium and then into lead wordnet
  10. 15
    Initialism of power amplifier. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  11. 16
    Initialism of Prince Albert (“genital piercing”). abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  12. 17
    Initialism of public accountant. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  13. 18
    Initialism of public act. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  14. 19
    Initialism of physician assistant. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  15. 20
    Initialism of physician associate. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  16. 21
    Initialism of polyamide. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  17. 22
    Initialism of pyrrolizidine alkaloid. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  18. 23
    Initialism of Peano arithmetic. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  19. 24
    Initialism of pulmonary artery. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  20. 25
    Initialism of Parental Accompaniment. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  21. 26
    Initialism of precision agriculture. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  22. 27
    Initialism of points against. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable

    "Coordinate term: PF"

Phrase
  1. 1
    Initialism of per annum. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "an interest rate of 3% PA"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Clipping of papa.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Māori pā.

See also for "pa"

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