Words / B1

TAN-oy/ˈtænɔɪ/

A tannoy is a loudspeaker system that makes announcements in stations, schools, and shops (UK). Tannoy began as a brand and is often used generically, like hoover. US public address system or PA. Over the tannoy / the tannoy announced. Countable as a system; often the tannoy.

Meaning

A public-address loudspeaker system (UK; originally a brand).

Examples

• “The tannoy at the station said the train was delayed.”
• “We missed the platform change because the tannoy was muffled.”
• “A tannoy in the supermarket called a cleaner to aisle four.”

Good to know

a tannoy (UK, often genericised brand). US: a PA / public address system. over the tannoy.

Near in meaning

PA system

New