pa

plural pas

1. colloquialFather, papa.

   1 more example

   "[…] And Clorilla has her ma's feet, only colder. […]" […] Clorilla's feet were truly remarkable, being all that her pa said, and more. In the hottest August weather frost used to gather on the outside of her shoes, and when the butter wouldn't come, all Clorilla had to do was to stick her feet up against the outside of the churn for a few minutes to get it ice-cold, and the buttermilk would begin to swash right away.

   1910 August 28, Ellis Parker Butler, “Putting One Over on Abram”, in Canada West, pages 269-272

   Synonyms: da, dad, daddy, papa, pater, pappy, pop, poppy

2. colloquialGrandpa, grandfather.

   Synonyms: grandpapa, grandpappy, grandpop, grandpoppy, pappy, pop, poppy, big daddy

plural pas · alternative pah

1. New ZealandhistoricalA fortified Maori settlement, especially of pre-European times.First known use 19th c.

   A pa or Māori defence fortification appears at a height on the hill above the bay.

   2020, Sujit Sivasundaram, Waves Across the South, William Collins, published 2021, page 68

   1 more example

   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.

   2003, Michael King, The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, Penguin, published 2023, page 71

2. New ZealandAny Maori village or settlement; a kainga.First known use 19th c.

1. abbreviationpostalAbbreviation of Pennsylvania: a state of the United States.

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

   1979 August 3, Talking Heads, “Life During Wartime”, in Fear of Music

2. abbreviationAbbreviation of Papua: a province of Indonesia.
3. abbreviationAbbreviation of Pará: a state of Brazil.
4. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Palestinian Authority.

   He believes that the PA is more entrenched inside Gaza than recognised, saying that, despite being ejected from Gaza as a political and security force in 2007, the PA was still delivering many public services including health and schools in Gaza.

   2023 November 27, Patrick Wintour, “Hamas cannot continue to rule Gaza, says EU foreign affairs chief”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   1 more example

   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.

   2009, Rafael Medoff, Chaim I. Waxman, The A to Z of Zionism, →ISBN, archived from the original on 27 Nov 2023, page 64

5. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of Proto-Algonquian (sometimes abbreviated PAn to distinguish it from Proto-Algic, but usually just abbreviated PA with Proto-Algic being abbreviated PAc).
6. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of Proto-Algic (sometimes abbreviated PAc to distinguish it from Proto-Algonquian).
7. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of Proto-Athabaskan.
8. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Prince Albert: a city in Saskatchewan, Canada.

plural PAs

1. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of public address.

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

   2017 November, N. K. Jemisin, Mac Walters, chapter 13, in Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, 1st edition (Science Fiction), Titan Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 242

2. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of production assistant.
3. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of personal assistant.

   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.

   2007 September 28, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 2, Episode 6

4. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of personal appearance (when a celebrity visits a public event).
5. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of power amplifier.
6. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of Prince Albert (“genital piercing”).
7. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of public accountant.
8. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablelawInitialism of public act.
9. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablemedicineInitialism of physician assistant.
10. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablemedicineInitialism of physician associate.
11. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablechemistryInitialism of polyamide.
12. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountablechemistryInitialism of pyrrolizidine alkaloid.
13. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of Peano arithmetic.
14. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableanatomyInitialism of pulmonary artery.
15. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableManitoba; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; SaskatchewanInitialism of Parental Accompaniment.
16. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of precision agriculture.
17. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableAmerican footballInitialism of points against.

    Coordinate term: PF

    1 more example

    The Giants and Commanders have the same record after 13 games each. However, Washington has control of third place in the NFC East due to a better PF/PA record in comparison to the Giants.

    2022 December 14, “NFL Playoff picture Week 15: Are the New York Giants still in contention for the postseason?”, in Sportskeeda, archived from the original on 17 Dec 2022

1. abbreviationinitialismnot comparablemedicineInitialism of posteroanterior.

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of per annum.

   an interest rate of 3% PA

1. informaluncountableFather, dad, papa.

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

   Synonyms: pa, dad, daddy, papa, pater, da, ayr, ba

2. uncountableA short form of grandpa; grandfather.

   Synonyms: pa, grandpa, grandpappy, ayle, elderfather, eldfather, goodsire, gramp