PLA
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | People's Liberation Army |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Military, Science & Engineering, Business & Finance, Education & Academia |
PLA has four meanings. The most common are People's Liberation Army (military unit and organization) and Polylactic acid (chemistry); it can also stand for Product listing ad and Prior learning assessment.
Meanings of PLA at a glance
| # | PLA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | People's Liberation Army | Military › Military Unit and Organization |
| 2 | Polylactic acid | Science & Engineering › Chemistry |
| 3 | Product listing ad | Business & Finance › Marketing & Advertising |
| 4 | Prior learning assessment | Education & Academia › Academic |
1. People's Liberation Army
Military · Military Unit and Organization Abbreviations
Armed forces of the People's Republic of China, the largest military in the world by active personnel. The PLA answers to the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission rather than to the state alone.
Example: PLA aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait during the exercise.
The PLA dates its founding to the Nanchang Uprising of August 1, 1927. Its services include the PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Rocket Force. In 3D printing, PLA means polylactic acid, a common filament material.
2. Polylactic acid
Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations
Bio-based, compostable polyester made from fermented plant sugars, typically from corn or sugarcane. PLA is the most popular 3D-printing filament and is used for "compostable" cups, cutlery and packaging, though it breaks down reliably only in industrial composting facilities, not in home compost or the ocean.
Example: Print the prototype in PLA at 205 °C with the bed heated to 60 °C.
Also called polylactide. Because it softens at around 55-60 °C, PLA parts can deform in a hot car or dishwasher. It falls under resin code 7 and can contaminate PET recycling if mixed in. In medicine, PLA and related polymers form dissolvable sutures and implants.
3. Product listing ad
Business & Finance · Marketing & Advertising Abbreviations
Google Shopping ad showing a product's image, title, price and store name, generated from a merchant's product feed rather than written as a text ad, appearing on search results and the Shopping tab.
Example: Our PLAs outperform text ads for branded sneaker searches.
Google Shopping became a paid-only service in 2012 and has also offered free product listings since 2020. Most PLAs now run inside Performance Max campaigns.
4. Prior learning assessment
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
Process by which colleges award credit for college-level learning gained through work, military service, training or independent study, using exams, portfolios or evaluations of non-college programs. It shortens degrees for adult learners.
Example: Through PLA, he earned 15 credits for his military logistics training and supervisory experience.
Also called credit for prior learning (CPL). Methods include CLEP and DSST exams, ACE credit recommendations and faculty-reviewed portfolios. Research by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has linked PLA credit to higher completion rates.
Related abbreviations
More military unit and organization abbreviations
- OSD – Office of the Secretary of Defense
- PACAF – Pacific Air Forces
- PACOM – United States Pacific Command
- PJ – Pararescue jumper
- Plt – Platoon
- RA – Royal Artillery
- RAF – Royal Air Force
- RE – Royal Engineers
See all 126 military unit and organization abbreviations →