AAS
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Associate of Applied Science |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Education & Academia, Medical, Units & Measurements, Science & Engineering |
AAS has four meanings. The most common are Associate of Applied Science (degree) and Anabolic-androgenic steroids (drug); it can also stand for Angle-Angle-Side (congruence) and Atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Meanings of AAS at a glance
| # | AAS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Associate of Applied Science | Education & Academia › Degree |
| 2 | Anabolic-androgenic steroids | Medical › Drug |
| 3 | Angle-Angle-Side (congruence) | Units & Measurements › Math |
| 4 | Atomic absorption spectroscopy | Science & Engineering › Chemistry |
1. Associate of Applied Science
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Career-focused associate degree that prepares students to enter a specific occupation, such as welding technology, dental hygiene, paralegal studies or culinary arts, after about two years. Most credits are technical rather than general education, so fewer of them count toward a later bachelor's degree.
Example: The AAS in dental hygiene ends with clinical rotations and the national board exam.
Sometimes written A.A.S. Because AAS programs contain limited general education, many universities and community colleges created Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees specifically to accept AAS credits. Students who already know they want a bachelor's degree are usually advised to choose an AA or AS instead.
2. Anabolic-androgenic steroids
Medical · Drug Abbreviations
Testosterone and synthetic derivatives such as nandrolone, stanozolol and oxandrolone that build muscle and promote male characteristics. They are prescribed for hypogonadism and some wasting conditions and are widely misused for bodybuilding and athletic performance.
Example: Hct 56 and suppressed LH/FSH; patient admits AAS cycles for 3 years.
Anabolic steroids became Schedule III controlled substances under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990. Misuse causes infertility, testicular shrinkage, acne, high red blood cell counts, liver damage, cardiomyopathy and mood disorders. Stopping after long cycles can cause prolonged low testosterone and depression.
3. Angle-Angle-Side (congruence)
Units & Measurements · Math Abbreviations
Triangle congruence criterion using two angles and a side that is not between them. It follows from ASA, since knowing two angles fixes the third; some textbooks write SAA.
Example: Two angles and the non-included side BC match, so the triangles are congruent by AAS.
Three equal angles (AAA) prove only similarity, not congruence, because triangles of different sizes can share the same angles. Students sometimes confuse AAS with the invalid side-side-angle case. US geometry courses list SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS and HL as the standard congruence tests.
4. Atomic absorption spectroscopy
Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations
Method for measuring individual metals by atomizing a sample in a flame or graphite furnace and measuring how much light from an element-specific lamp the free atoms absorb. AAS is widely used to determine lead, copper, zinc and other metals in water, soil, food and blood.
Example: Blood lead was measured by graphite furnace AAS.
Alan Walsh developed atomic absorption spectroscopy at Australia's CSIRO in the 1950s. Each element needs its own hollow-cathode lamp, so AAS measures one element at a time, which is why multi-element techniques such as ICP-OES and ICP-MS have replaced it in many high-volume laboratories.
Related abbreviations
More degree abbreviations
- AA – Associate of Arts
- AAT – Associate of Arts in Teaching
- AB – Artium Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Arts)
- ADN – Associate Degree in Nursing
- AFA – Associate of Fine Arts
- AGS – Associate in General Studies
- ALM – Artium Liberalium Magister (Master of Liberal Arts)
- AM – Artium Magister (Master of Arts)
See all 139 degree abbreviations →
More drug abbreviations
- 5-FU – 5-Fluorouracil
- 5-HTP – 5-Hydroxytryptophan
- 6-MP – 6-Mercaptopurine
- 70/30 – 70% intermediate-acting and 30% short-acting premixed insulin
- ABC – Abacavir
- ABX – Antibiotics
- ACV – Acyclovir
- AmB – Amphotericin B
See all 170 drug abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.