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Meaning & use

PCA

abbreviation·Advanced

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UK/ˌpiː siː ˈeɪ/
US/ˌpiː siː ˈeɪ/

Meanings

  1. abbreviationuncountabletechnicalmathematics

    Principal component analysis, a statistical method that reduces many related variables to a few that capture most of the variation.

    Grammar: Used as a name for the method: we ran PCA on the data.

    Patterns

    • run PCA on something
    • PCA of something

    The researchers used PCA to simplify a table of fifty gene measurements.

    After PCA, the first two components explained most of the variance.

    Data scientists often apply PCA before clustering.

  2. abbreviationuncountablemedical

    Patient-controlled analgesia, a pump that lets a patient press a button to receive a safe dose of pain relief.

    Grammar: Usually used without an article: she was given PCA after surgery.

    Patterns

    • on PCA
    • PCA pump

    After the operation, he used a PCA pump to manage pain.

    The nurse explained how PCA works and how to press the button.

    PCA reduced her need for extra doses.

  3. abbreviationcountable

    Personal care assistant, a person who helps someone with daily tasks such as washing, dressing and meals.

    Grammar: Takes a: she works as a PCA.

    Patterns

    • work as a PCA
    • hire a PCA

    His PCA visits every morning to help him get ready.

    She trained as a PCA before becoming a nurse.

    The agency matched the family with a reliable PCA.

Word forms

pluralPCAs

Common combinations

run PCA on the data
We ran PCA on the data to see natural groupings.
PCA plot
The PCA plot showed two clear clusters.
PCA pump
The PCA pump gave her pain relief at the press of a button.
hire a PCA
They hired a PCA to assist their grandmother.

Synonyms and how they differ

principal component analysis
This is the full name and is clearer in a first mention than the abbreviation.
home aide
This is a plain-language alternative to PCA in the care sense.

Word family

component noun
one part of a whole, as in principal component
analgesia noun
the relief of pain
variance noun
a measure of spread in data

Commonly confused: PCA or PCR?

PCA vs PCR

PCR is a laboratory technique that copies DNA; do not confuse it with PCA, a statistical method.

Practice

In a statistics report, the abbreviation PCA most likely refers to _____.

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