alpha

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.

Adjective

  1. Designates the first in an order of precedence.
    • I am the alpha male.
  2. Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.
    • And thank you. Seriously. I'll call you later. You better. I'm feeling pretty alpha now. Yes, you are. - 2015, Life Is Strange, Square Enix:
  3. Designates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation.
    • When interstellar travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.
  4. Clipping of alphabetical.
    • Sort the list in alpha order.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *ʔalp- Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾlp)bor. Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor. English alpha From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph.

Derived

Alpha Centauri alpha female alpha geek alpha strike alpha test shalpha

Noun

  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: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ).
  3. 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. The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
    • Similarly, alphas are 2.33% larger than that of the equivalent monthly alphas using compounded returns while no changes can be found using arithmetic returns. - 2001, Cheng-Few Lee, editor, Advances in Investment...
    • To investment professionals, “alpha” is the return over and above the market return. If in a given year the S. & P. 500 returns fifteen per cent and an equity-fund manager generates a return of twenty per cent, his...

    Coordinate Terms: beta

  5. A person, especially a male, who is dominant, successful and attractive; (see alpha male).
    • Being a beta male in a species with alphas doesn't mean you have to sit out the mating game. - 2008, Faye Flam, The Score: How the Quest for Sex Has Shaped the Modern Man, Avery, published 2008, →ISBN:
    • 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. - 2008, Mitzi Szereto, editor, The New Black Lace Book of Women's Sexual...
    • 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...
  6. Clipping of alphabet.
  7. The first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer.
    • We will assume you got the .tgz version—later 2.x series versions such as 2.5.2 or 2.6.0 should be okay, provided they are production releases (not alphas, betas, or release candidates). - 2007, Mark Summerfield, Rapid...
  8. An angle of attack.

    Coordinate Terms: beta gamma theta

  9. The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.
  10. Ellipsis of alpha layer.
  11. The significance level of a statistical test; the alpha level.
  12. 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.
    • Sometimes the alphas and omegas are rare, sometimes they are only males, sometimes they have altered sex organs. - 2013, Kristina Busse, “Pon Farr, Mpreg, Bonds, and the Rise of the Omegaverse”, in Anne Jamison, editor,...
    • 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...
    • 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. - 2018, Laura Campillo...

Forms

alphas

Related

alphabet

Derived

Acrux alpha- alpha acid alpha-adrenergic blocking agent alpha-adrenoreceptor alpha-amino acid alpha and omega alpha-beta filter alphabetagamma alpha-beta pruning alpha blending alpha blocker alpha-blocker alpha brass alpha carbon alpha cell alpha chain disease alpha channel alpha-chlorotoluene alpha city alpha conversion alphacypermethrin alpha-cyperone alpha decay