TCA
|tiː-siː-eɪ|
/tiː siː eɪ/
initialism of multiword technical term
Etymology
'TCA' originates from Modern English as an initialism, specifically formed from the initial letters of multiword technical terms such as 'tricyclic antidepressant' (from 'tri-' meaning 'three' + 'cyclic' meaning 'ring' + 'antidepressant') and 'tricarboxylic acid cycle' (from 'tri-' + 'carboxylic acid' + 'cycle').
'TCA' was coined in the 20th century as a convenient abbreviation in medical and biochemical literature; over time it became standard shorthand in clinical, scientific, and some legal contexts (e.g., Tax Court of Australia).
Initially it served simply as an abbreviation of specific full terms; it has remained an initialism referring to those technical concepts and is widely understood within relevant professional fields.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
abbreviation for tricyclic antidepressant: any drug of a class of antidepressants characterized by a three-ring chemical structure, used to treat depression and some other conditions.
The patient was switched to a TCA after several SSRIs failed to relieve symptoms.
Synonyms
Noun 2
abbreviation for tricarboxylic acid cycle (also called the Krebs cycle or citric acid cycle): a central metabolic pathway that oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO2 and produces energy carriers (ATP, NADH, FADH2).
In many biochemistry textbooks, the TCA is presented as the hub of aerobic metabolism.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/14 23:09