I. ˈalfə, ˈau̇fə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from a Phoenician word akin to Hebrew āleph, literally, ox
1. : the first letter of the Greek alphabet — symbol Αor α — see alphabet table
2. : the first (as in sequence, order, classification) : beginning
the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end — Revelations 22:13 (Revised Standard Version)
— compare omega
3. : an alpha particle or alpha ray
II. adjective
or α- “
1. : of or relating to one of two or more closely related chemical substances
α-yohimbine
— used somewhat arbitrarily to specify ordinal relationship or to specify a particular physical form, especially an allotropic modification (as in α-iron), or an isomeric or sometimes polymeric or stereoisomeric form (as in α- d -glucose); abbreviation sometimes a-
2. : first in position from or closest in the structure of an organic molecule to a particular group or atom or having a structure characterized by such a position
the alpha positions of furan
α-amino acids
α-naphthol
3. : producing green pigment when grown on blood media — used of certain hemolytic streptococci
4. : first in order of brightness — used of a star in a constellation
III. noun
1. : alpha wave
2. : an alpha individual (as in a wolf pack)
IV. adjective
: socially dominant especially in a group of animals
challenging the alpha wolf in their pack — Suzanne Core
V. ˈalfə, ˈau̇fə adjective
Etymology: by shortening
: alphabetic
an alpha sort