pa

[ pah, paw ]

/ pɑ, pɔ /

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noun Informal.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pa

Short for papa

Other definitions for pa (2 of 8)

Pa¹

abbreviation Physics.

pascal; pascals.

Other definitions for pa (3 of 8)

Pa²

Symbol, Chemistry.

protactinium.

Other definitions for pa (4 of 8)

abbreviation

Parents' Association.

paying agent.

Pennsylvania (approved especially for use with zip code).

physician's assistant.

press agent.

public-address system.

Other definitions for pa (5 of 8)

p.a.

abbreviation

participial adjective.

per annum.

press agent.

Other definitions for pa (6 of 8)

p.-a.

abbreviation

public-address system.

Other definitions for pa (7 of 8)

Pa.

abbreviation

Pennsylvania.

Other definitions for pa (8 of 8)

P.A.

abbreviation

Parents' Association.

Insurance. particular average.

passenger agent.

post adjutant.

power of attorney.

press agent.

public-address system.

publicity agent.

purchasing agent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pa in a sentence

Phonetic, made-up lyrics are another venerable tradition of folk music, and “pa-rum-pa-pa-pum” is iconic of the genre.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one was prepared to hear what the ships captain told them over the PA system.
Inside the Cruise Ship Quarantined Over Ebola Fear|Carol McKinley|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did you have to intern and PA on a lot of films before breaking through?
Octavia Spencer on Hollywood and Race: The Film Roles I’m Offered Are Too Small|Marlow Stern|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Charles raised a quizzical eyebrow and it fell to his son to tell him, "Pa, you should be pleased!"
William Tells Dad, "You're Buff, Pa!"|Tom Sykes|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Former Club for Growth president and now Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is also a former supporter of the Ex-Im Bank.
Conservative Support for the Export-Import Bank Turned to Hate|Tim Mak|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pa says if your folks had so many children as he has and some of 'em got away he wouldn't offer no reward for 'em, he wouldn't.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
Ma she says there's consid'able difference in their ways, though; 'cause Seth he works, constant, an' pa he never does a stroke.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
"Pa" is somewhat proud of his boy, and Charles was of course elaborately gotten up for so great an occasion.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Pa Babcock affirmed the tale and declared that this was why he had left off working on the haunted farm.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
And then you go to your pa and tell him the deacon wants to make up, and begs his pardon out and out.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for pa (1 of 7)

pa¹

/ (pɑː) /

noun

an informal word for father

British Dictionary definitions for pa (2 of 7)

pa²

pah

/ (pɑː) /

noun NZ

a Māori village or settlement

history a Māori defensive position and settlement on a hilltop

go back to the pa to abandon city life in favour of rural life

Word Origin for pa

Māori

British Dictionary definitions for pa (3 of 7)

pa³

the internet domain name for

Panama

British Dictionary definitions for pa (4 of 7)

the chemical symbol for

protactinium

symbol for

pascal

British Dictionary definitions for pa (5 of 7)

abbreviation for

Pennsylvania

personal appearance

personal assistant

military Post Adjutant

power of attorney

press agent

Press Association

banking private account

public-address system

publicity agent

Publishers Association

purchasing agent

insurance particular average

(in New Zealand) probationary assistant

Panama (international car registration)

British Dictionary definitions for pa (6 of 7)

p.a.

abbreviation for

per annum

Word Origin for p.a.

Latin: yearly

British Dictionary definitions for pa (7 of 7)

Pa.

abbreviation for

Pennsylvania

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pa

Abbreviation of pascal

The symbol for protactinium.

pa

Origin of pa

Other definitions for pa (2 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (3 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (4 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (5 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (6 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (7 of 8)

Other definitions for pa (8 of 8)

Words related to pa

How to use pa in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pa (1 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for pa (2 of 7)

pah

Word Origin for pa

British Dictionary definitions for pa (3 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for pa (4 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for pa (5 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for pa (6 of 7)

Word Origin for p.a.

British Dictionary definitions for pa (7 of 7)

Scientific definitions for pa