α

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α U+03B1, α
GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA
ΰ
[U+03B0]
Greek and Coptic β
[U+03B2]

Translingual

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Symbol

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α

  1. (electrodynamics) The fine structure constant.
    1. (in our Universe) a value of approximately 1/137 = 0.0072973525
  2. (classical mechanics) Represents angular acceleration.
    See Wikipedia article on angular acceleration for usage.
  3. (chemistry) Used in chemical nomenclature.
    α-lactam has a three-membered ring structure.
  4. (astronomy) Used to identify some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation, for instance α-Centauri.
  5. (topology) Alexandroff compactification.
  6. (UPA) An open back rounded vowel (IPA [ɒ]).

Derived terms

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See also

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  • alpha (for names of this symbol in other language)

Noun

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α

  1. (astronomy) right ascension
    Coordinate term: δ

Albanian

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Pronunciation

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IPA(key): /a/

Letter

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α (a) (upper case A, lower case α)

  1. The first letter of the Arvanitic Albanian Greek-script alphabet.

See also

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Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Derived from its majuscule counterpart Α, from the Phoenician letter 𐤀, aleph.

Letter

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α (a) (lowercase, uppercase Α)

  1. Lower-case alpha (ἄλφα), the first letter of the ancient Greek alphabet. It represented the open front or central unrounded vowel /a/. It is followed by β.

Derived terms

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See also alpha

See also

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Greek

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Etymology 1

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Derived from its Ancient Greek majuscule counterpart Α (A, Alpha), in turn from the Phoenician letter 𐤀 (aleph).

Letter

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α (a) (lower case, upper case Α)

  1. Lower-case άλφα (álfa, alpha), the first letter of the modern Greek alphabet. Represents the open front unrounded vowel: /a/.
Usage notes
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  • Ancient Greek, however, did not distinguish between upper case and lower case. See Α (A) for details.
Derived terms
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  • α΄ (one, 1)
  • (,a, one thousand, 1,000)
See also
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Etymology 2

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From Ancient Greek (â).

Interjection

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α! (a!)

  1. Expresses wonder, surprise or joy; ah, ooh, oh, wow:
    Α, τι πανέμορφη θέα!
    A, ti panémorfi théa!
    Wow, what a gorgeous view!
    Α, δεν σε περίμενα! Ποτέ έφτασες;
    A, den se perímena! Poté éftases?
    Oh, I wasn't expecting you! When did you get here?
  2. Expresses desire or wish; oh:
    Α και να ερχόταν να με δει!
    A kai na erchótan na me dei!
    Oh, if only he would come to see me!
  3. Expresses anger or threat; oh:
    Α που να σε πάρει ο διάολος!
    A pou na se párei o diáolos!
    Oh, the devil take you!
    Α έτσι μου είσαι; Θα δεις εσύ τώρα!
    A étsi mou eísai? Tha deis esý tóra!
    Oh, so that's how it is? Wait till you see!
  4. Expresses impatience; oh, ah:
    Α δεν μπορώ να περιμένω άλλο!
    A den boró na periméno állo!
    Ah, I can't wait any longer!
  5. Expresses confirmation of a fact; oh, ah:
    Α ναι βεβαίως ήταν αυτός!
    A nai vevaíos ítan aftós!
    Ah, yes, of course it was him!
  6. Expresses desire against; oh, ah:
    Α όχι αυτός πάλι!
    A óchi aftós páli!
    Oh, not him again!
  7. Answer word, can be either positive or negative; eh, meh:
    Θα ’ρθεις απόψε στο πάρτι; Α, μπα!
    Tha ’rtheis apópse sto párti? A, ba!
    Will you be coming to the party tonight? Ah, nah!
    Ωραίο δεν ήταν το έργο; Α, καλό ήταν!
    Oraío den ítan to érgo? A, kaló ítan!
    Wasn't the film nice? Eh, it was good!
  8. Answer word of indifference; meh:
    Πως πάει το σχόλιο τελευταία; Α, έτσι κι έτσι!
    Pos páei to schólio teleftaía? A, étsi ki étsi!
    How's school going lately? Meh, so-so!

Etymology 3

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From άι < άε from Ancient Greek ἄγε sg (áge, go!, pres.imp.) (with deletion of ‑γ-) of verb ἄγω (I lead).[1][2] Also see etymologies of άντε, άιντε, άμε.

Alternative forms

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  • άι (ái) (uncontracted)
  • and see: άντε for interchangeable interjections for dismissal

Interjection

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α (a)

  1. (colloquial) Contraction of άντε (ánte).
    Α να χαθείς!
    A na chatheís!
    Oh, get lost!
    Α στο καλό πια, σε βαρέθηκα!
    A sto kaló pia, se varéthika!
    Oh go away will you, I'm sick of you!
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References

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  1. ^ α, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
  2. ^ α - Babiniotis, Georgios (2002) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας: [] [Dictionary of Modern Greek (language)] (in Greek), 2nd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias [Lexicology Centre], 1st edition 1998, →ISBN.

Tsakonian

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Doric Greek ᾱ̔ () (Attic Greek ()), from Proto-Indo-European *séh₂.

Article

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α (af sg

  1. feminine nominative singular of ο (o)
Declension
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Etymology 2

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Letter

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α (a) (lower case, upper case Α)

  1. The first letter of the Tsakonian alphabet.

See also

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