Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Alpha

Al′pha

,
Noun.
[L.
alpha
, Gr.
ἄλφα
, from Heb.
āleph
, name of the first letter in the alphabet, also meaning
ox
.]
The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and hence used to denote the beginning.
In am
Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev. xxii. 13.
Formerly used also denote the chief; as, Plato was the alpha of the wits.
☞ In cataloguing stars, the brightest star of a constellation in designated by Alpha (α); as, α Lyræ.

Webster 1828 Edition


Alpha

AL'PHA

,
Noun.
[Heb. an ox, a leader.]
The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and used to denote first or beginning.
I am Alpha and Omega. Rev. 1.
As a numeral, it stands for one. It was formerly used also to denote chief; as, Plato was the Alpha of the wits.

Definition 2024


Alpha

Alpha

See also: alpha, alfa, and alpha-

Translingual

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈælfɑ]
  • Hyphenation: Al‧pha

Symbol

Alpha

  1. The letter A in the ICAO spelling alphabet.

English

Proper noun

Alpha

  1. A placename
    1. A ghost town in California, USA
    2. A village in Illinois, USA
    3. A village in Michigan, USA
    4. A city/village in Minnesota, USA
    5. A borough in New Jersey, USA
    6. A town in Queensland, Australia.
    7. (obsolete) Former name for the International Space Station

German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈalfa]
  • Hyphenation: Al‧pha

Noun

Alpha n (genitive Alpha or Alphas, plural Alphas)

  1. alpha (Greek letter)

Declension

alpha

alpha

See also: alfa, Alpha, and alpha-

English

Ancient Greek Alphabet

beta
Α α
Ancient Greek: ἄλφα
Wikipedia article on alpha

Noun

alpha (countable and uncountable, plural alphas)

  1. The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α,  α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.
  2. Latin alpha
  3. (sciences) The name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.
    I will attempt to make an alpha particle ("α-particle") with the large hadron collider.
  4. (finance) The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
  5. An alpha male.
    • 2008, Faye Flam, The Score: How the Quest for Sex Has Shaped the Modern Man, Avery (2008), ISBN 9781436225786, unnumbered page:
      Being a beta male in a species with alphas doesn't mean you have to sit out the mating game.
    • 2008, The New Black Lace Book of Women's Sexual Fantasies (ed. Mitzi Szereto), Black Lace (2008), ISBN 9780352341723, page 38:
      I'm still turned on by alpha males. I think there are only a couple of other men that turn me on . . . ones that are clearly not alphas.
    • 2009, Martin G. Groder & Pat Webster, Winning at Love: The Alpha Male's Guide to Relationship Success, Bascom Hill Books (2009), ISBN 9781935456049, page ix:
      This book is primarily for alpha males, or “top dogs.” We'll talk more about that later; but let's just say that if you are a man and successful in the world of trade, business, or profession, most likely you are an alpha, or you have been trained to act like an alpha.
  6. (informal, abbreviation) Alphabet.
  7. (software engineering) The first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer.
  8. (computer graphics) The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.

Derived terms

See also

Translations

Adjective

alpha (not comparable)

  1. Designates the first in an order of precedence.
    I am the alpha male.
  2. (person, object or action) exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.
  3. (astronomy) Designates the brightest star in a constellation.
    When space travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.

Derived terms

Related terms


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /al.fa/

Noun

alpha m (plural alpha)

  1. alpha (Greek letter)

Interlingua

Noun

alpha

  1. alpha

Latin

Etymology

From Greek ἄλφα (álpha)

Pronunciation

Noun

alpha n (indeclinable)

  1. alpha

References