aa
aa — noun
- aasingular
- aasplural
1. an American college qualification awarded after completing a two-year programme
an American college qualification awarded after completing a two-year programme of study in the arts or humanities, often taken at a community college before moving to a four-year university
After earning her AA at a community college, Eri transferred to a state university to study literature.
collocation: earn an AA / get an AA
The evening programme offers an AA in liberal arts for working adults.
Tamás listed his AA on the job application to show he had completed two years of study.
Maeve's AA in early childhood education qualifies her to work as a nursery assistant.
- Associate of Arts
the full form; AA is the abbreviation
- two-year degree
broader category that includes AA, AS, and AAS
文法句型
AA + (degree/program/course)
用法筆記
Only used in the US education system. In other countries, two-year degrees have different names. Distinguish from AS (Associate in Science), which is a similar degree focused on science subjects.
常見錯誤
2. an international mutual-help organisation in which people who have problems with
an international mutual-help organisation in which people who have problems with alcohol meet regularly to encourage each other to stop drinking and stay sober
Adina has been attending AA meetings every Tuesday since she decided to quit drinking.
collocation: attend AA / go to AA / AA meeting
The church basement hosts an AA group that welcomes anyone looking for support.
Emily's father has stayed sober for fifteen years thanks to AA and the help of his sponsor.
During the AA meeting, members shared stories about their first week without alcohol.
Lara keeps AA helpline numbers in her kitchen in case she feels tempted to drink.
- twelve-step programme
refers to AA's recovery method, not the organisation itself
- recovery group
broader term covering AA and similar support groups
文法句型
AA + (meeting/group/member/programme)
用法筆記
Treated as a proper noun — no article is used before 'AA' in this sense ('She goes to AA,' not 'She goes to the AA'). The organisation's Twelve-Step programme has influenced many other recovery groups.
常見錯誤
3. a British membership organisation that helps drivers whose vehicles have broken
a British membership organisation that helps drivers whose vehicles have broken down on the road and offers insurance, travel advice, and other services to its members
Saira called the AA when her car broke down on the motorway near Birmingham.
collocation: call the AA / join the AA
Putri signed up for AA membership so she would not have to worry about roadside emergencies.
An AA patrol van arrived within forty minutes and helped jump-start the battery.
The AA's website lets members compare car insurance policies from different providers.
- breakdown service
generic term for any roadside assistance organisation
- motoring organisation
broader category that offers travel advice and insurance beyond just breakdown cover
文法句型
AA + (membership/service/breakdown cover)
用法筆記
Used with the definite article: 'the AA.' This is a UK-specific organisation; similar services exist in other countries under different names (e.g. AAA in the US).
常見錯誤
4. a type of volcanic rock formed when fast-moving lava cools into a rough, jagged,
a type of volcanic rock formed when fast-moving lava cools into a rough, jagged, and blocky surface covered with sharp fragments and clinkers
The hikers struggled to walk across the aa field because the broken lava slices their boots.
collocation: aa field / aa flow / aa surface
Unlike the smooth, rope-like pahoehoe, aa cools into a chaotic heap of sharp black stones.
Karim's geology textbook explained that aa forms when lava loses most of its gas before it stops moving.
Amani took a photo of the aa surface from a safe distance while the volcano rumbled nearby.
- block lava
slightly different texture — block lava has larger, smoother blocks than aa
- clinkery lava
descriptive term for the rough, clinker-like fragments of aa
- pahoehoe
smooth, billowy, or rope-like lava that contrasts with aa's rough surface
文法句型
aa + (lava/flow/field/surface)
用法筆記
Uncountable noun. The word comes from Hawaiian and is usually written without quotation marks in geological texts. Pahoehoe is the contrasting smooth type of lava.