# aba

/ˌeɪˌbiˈeɪ/ (US) · /ɐbˈæ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aba
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Senses

### 1. garment

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a loose, sleeveless piece of clothing worn by people in the Middle East.

For teachers: a traditional, loose-fitting sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs, typically made of camel or goat hair.

- The traveler wore a heavy aba to protect himself from the desert wind.
- The merchant was draped in a finely woven silk aba, signaling his high status within the community.

Usage: The noun is countable when referring to the garment itself.

### 2. fabric

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a thick, rough cloth made from animal hair, often used in the Middle East.

For teachers: a coarse, often striped, felted fabric woven from goat or camel hair, originating in the Middle East.

- The tent was made from thick aba to keep out the heat.
- Traditional weavers still produce aba using techniques passed down through generations of nomadic families.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the material in general.

### 3. fish

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of long, thin fish found in African rivers and lakes.

For teachers: a species of electric fish, Gymnarchus niloticus, native to various freshwater habitats in Africa.

- The aba is known for its ability to produce weak electric signals.
- Researchers studied the aba to understand how its specialized organs generate electricity in murky swamp waters.

### 4. initialism

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a short way of saying the name of a group, like the American Bar Association.

For teachers: an initialism representing various organizations, most notably the American Bar Association or American Basketball Association.

- He is a member of the ABA and attends their legal conferences every year.
- The ABA issued a formal statement regarding the new judicial appointments late yesterday afternoon.

Usage: Usually written in all capital letters.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.