alpha
EnglishEdit
— | → beta | |
Wikipedia article on alpha |
EtymologyEdit
From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif.
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
alpha (countable and uncountable, plural alphas)
- 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.
- Latin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ).
- (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.
- (finance) The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
- A person, especially a male, who is dominant, successful and attractive; (see alpha male).
- 2009, Martin G. Groder; Pat Webster, Winning at Love: The Alpha Male's Guide to Relationship Success[2], Bascom Hill Books, →ISBN, 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.
- (informal, abbreviation) Short for alphabet. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (software engineering) The first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer.
- (aviation) Angle of attack.
- (computer graphics) The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.
- (statistics) The significance level of a statistical test; the alpha level.
- (fandom slang) In omegaverse fiction, a person of a dominant secondary sex driven by biology, magic, or other means to bond with an omega, with males of this type often having canine-like genitalia.
- 2013, Kristina Busse, "Pon Farr, Mpreg, Bonds, and the Rise of the Omegaverse", in Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World (ed. Anne Jamison), page 317:
- Sometimes the alphas and omegas are rare, sometimes they are only males, sometimes they have altered sex organs.
- 2017, Marianne Gunderson, "What is an omega? Rewriting sex and gender in omegaverse fanfiction", thesis submitted to the University of Oslo, page 11:
- Sherlock realizes that John, despite being an alpha, sees and loves Sherlock for who he is, "a brilliant, mad, nutter of a man," instead of only wanting him for his reproductive functions, his ability to become pregnant.
- 2018, Laura Campillo Arnaiz, "When the Omega Empath Met the Alpha Doctor: An Analysis of Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics in the Hannibal Fandom", in The Darker Side of Slash Fan Fiction (ed. Ashton Spacey), page 130:
- Contrary to the typical scenario expected in a dark A/B/O story, in this story both Hannibal and Will are alphas—but Hannibal wants Will to be his omega; subservient and submissive to him only.
- 2013, Kristina Busse, "Pon Farr, Mpreg, Bonds, and the Rise of the Omegaverse", in Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World (ed. Anne Jamison), page 317:
Derived termsEdit
- alpha acid
- alpha and omega
- alpha blending
- alpha blocker, alpha-blocker
- alpha brass
- alpha carbon
- alpha cell
- alpha channel
- alpha city
- alpha conversion
- alpha decay
- alpha dog
- alpha dogging
- alpha emission
- alpha emitter
- alpha error
- alpha floor
- alpha globin
- alpha helix
- alpha hinge
- alpha linolenic acid
- alpha male
- alpha max
- alpha naphthol
- alpha pair
- alpha paper
- alpha particle
- alpha privative
- alpha privativum
- alpha protection
- alpha radiation
- alpha ray
- alpha strike
- alpha taxonomy, alpha-taxonomy
- alpha testing
- alpha version
- alpha wave
- alpha-amino acid
- alpha-beta filter
- alpha-beta pruning
- alpha-d-galactosidase
- alpha-hydroxy acid
- alpha-lactam
- alpha-methylphenethylamine
- alphalike
- alphanumeric
- alphasyllabary
- alphatron
- enormous Lyman-alpha nebula
- ensen's alpha
- female alpha
- Latin alpha
- Lyman-alpha forest
- male alpha
- pre-alpha version
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
name of the letter Α, α
|
name of the letter Ɑ, ɑ — see w:Latin alpha
See alsoEdit
- Alpha (investment) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
AdjectiveEdit
alpha (not comparable)
- Designates the first in an order of precedence.
- I am the alpha male.
- (of person, object or action) Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.
- 2015, Life Is Strange, Square Enix:
- And thank you. Seriously. I'll call you later.
You better. I'm feeling pretty alpha now.
Yes, you are.
- And thank you. Seriously. I'll call you later.
- 2015, Life Is Strange, Square Enix:
- (astronomy) Designates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation.
- When interstellar travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.
Derived termsEdit
AnagramsEdit
FrenchEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
alpha m (plural alpha)
- alpha (Greek letter)
Further readingEdit
- “alpha”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
InterlinguaEdit
NounEdit
alpha
LatinEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha).
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
alpha n (indeclinable)
ReferencesEdit
- “alpha”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “alpha”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- alpha in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
- alpha in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette