alpha

¹al·pha

noun \ˈal-fə\

Definition of ALPHA

1

: the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table

2

: something that is first : beginning

3

: alpha wave

4

: alpha particle

Examples of ALPHA

1. <money is not the alpha and omega—the beginning and end—of life's purpose>

Origin of ALPHA

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew āleph aleph

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ALPHA

Synonyms

beginning, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go (also git-go), inception, incipience, incipiency, kickoff, launch, morning, nascence, nascency, onset, outset, start, threshold

Antonyms

close, conclusion, end, ending, omega

Related Words

drawing board, first base, ground zero, square one; creation, founding, inauguration, initiation, institution, origination; cradle, fountain, fountainhead, germ, origin, root, seedbed, source, spring, well, wellspring; dawning, opening; advent, appearance, arrival, debut (also début), emergence; childhood, infancy, youth

Near Antonyms

cessation, closing, closure, completion, finale, finish, period, stop, termination, windup

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

²alpha

adjective

Definition of ALPHA

1

: closest in the structure of an organic molecule to a particular group or atom —symbol α <α-substitution>

2

: socially dominant especially in a group of animals <an alpha male>

3

: alphabetic

First Known Use of ALPHA

1863

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge