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Glite Dictionary
P.A. system

P.A. system

3 3.4
A set of speakers and microphones that make sound louder so many people can hear it
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : sistema de megafonía
  • It was feeding back through your P.A. system.
  • announcement over the P.A. system
  • voice over the P.A. system
  • announce over the P.A. system

Examples

  • The mayor blares out his message through a P.A. system on the hearse.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Wolfgang picks up the captain's microphone and speaks over the P.A. system.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I have one on the house P.A. system.

    Dirty Work (1998)

  • Unless you use the P.A. system.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • If the P.A. system makes a horrible noise during a lecture, it sounds like Cage.

    Blog text (7)

  • The P.A. system announcing the departure of the Miami flight!

    Fiction book (1991)

  • A couple dozen people mumbled into a bad P.A. system.

    Blog text (26)

  • The thundering arena sound of the collecting crowd, the P.A. system blasting.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Wolfgang puts on a headset and activates the P.A. system.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States!" the announcer bellowed through the P.A. system.

Synonyms

sound system
vsP.A. system
30 3.5

A set of electronic devices that records, makes louder, or plays sound

is specific to amplifying and distributing sound in public spaces
PA
vsP.A. system
22 5.1

A set of microphones and speakers used to make announcements or play music in public

is broader, covering any amplified distribution of sound in public areas
PA system
vsP.A. system
7 2.8

A set of loud electronic speakers that plays announcements in public places

focuses generally on distributing amplified sound across public spaces
public address system
vsP.A. system
4 3.3

A system with microphones and speakers that makes announcements loud in public places

covers amplified public sound broadly, not only spoken announcements
audio system
vsP.A. system
3 3.4

Electronic devices used to play, record, or make sound louder

is used specifically for public amplification and distribution of sound
P.A.
vsP.A. system
  • Specialized
3.9

A sound system that makes speech or music louder so many people can hear

is the general term for amplifying and distributing sound in public

How Loud

P.A. system
  • Specialized
3 3.4
speaker
175 1.5
earbud
12 2.7

Surface Forms

P.A. system singular
P.A. systems plural

Morphology

P.A. + system

If the learner knows that 'P.A.' stands for 'public address', the meaning of 'P.A. system' is directly compositional: a 'system' for addressing the public (i.e. amplifying/distributing sound). This is a common, cross-linguistically transparent construction (public address + system) and therefore predictable to a learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

P.A. system comes from P.A. for 'public address' and the word system. Imagine a person speaking into a loudspeaker so their voice is made louder and reaches the whole room; the equipment that does this became known as the P.A. system, so today it means the electronic gear that makes sound louder for public places.