a ‧ live S2 W3 /əˈlaɪv/ BrE AmE adjective [not before noun]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: on life 'in life' ]
1 . NOT DEAD still living and not dead:
It was a bad accident – they’re lucky to be alive.
My grandparents are still alive.
We stayed alive by eating berries.
He was kept alive on a life-support machine.
Apparently he’s alive and well and living in Brazil.
2 . STILL EXISTING continuing to exist:
Ancient traditions are very much alive in rural areas.
Christianity is alive and well in Asia.
The sport is still very much alive and kicking in this country.
3 . CHEERFUL full of energy, happiness, activity etc:
It was the kind of morning when you wake up and feel really alive.
alive with
Her face was alive with excitement.
The whole house was alive with activity.
4 . come alive
a) if a subject or event comes alive, it becomes interesting and seems real:
Hopefully, we can make history come alive for the children.
b) if someone comes alive, they suddenly become happy and interested in what is happening:
She only came alive when she sat down at the piano.
c) if a town, city etc comes alive, it becomes busy:
seaside resorts that come alive in the summer
5 . be alive to a fact/possibility/danger etc to know that a particular fact etc exists and that it is important:
The company is alive to the threat posed by foreign imports.
6 . be alive with something to be full of living things that are moving:
The pond was alive with fish.
7 . bring something alive to make something interesting and real:
The way he describes his characters really brings them alive.
⇨ skin somebody alive at ↑ skin 2 (3)