[ 'alfə ]
■ noun
1》 the first letter of the Greek ~bet ( Α , α ), transliterated as ‘a’.
↘[as modifier ] denoting the first of a series of items or categories.
↘[as modifier ] denoting the dominant animal or person in a group: an ~ male.
↘ Brit. a first-class mark given for a piece of work.
2》 a code word representing the letter A, used in radio communication.
Phrases
~ and omega the beginning and the end (used by Christians as a title for Jesus).
Origin
via L. from Gk.