Main Entry:

¹al·pha

Pronunciation:

\ˈal-fə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

13th century

1 : the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table 2 : something that is first : beginning 3 : alpha wave 4 : alpha particle