ALPHA
What does "ALPHA" mean?
The first letter of the Greek alphabet, often meaning the first or foremost.
Meanings
- The first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α). In the equation, alpha stands for the angle of incidence.
- The dominant individual in a social group of animals or, informally, people. The pack's alpha ate before the others approached the kill.
- An early, internal release of software, before the more stable beta stage. The game is still in alpha, so expect crashes. technical
- First, principal, or earliest in a series. The alpha version shipped to a handful of testers.
Did you know?
- The letter A you are reading began life as an ox: 'alpha' comes from Phoenician 'aleph' ('ox'), and the original glyph was an ox-head that later got flipped on its side into our A.
- The word 'alphabet' is literally 'alpha' plus 'beta' bolted together - the first two Greek letters standing in for the whole set.
Word origin
From Greek 'alpha', the name of the first letter, itself borrowed from Phoenician 'ʾalp' meaning 'ox' — the letter's shape descends from a pictograph of an ox's head.
Remember it
ALPHA = A, the alphabet's first letter; both words start with the same A for a reason.
A little poem
Before the count, before the named and known,
one ox-head tilted, turned, and learned to stand-
the first mark made so all the rest could roam.
tercet
Wordplay
- Why did alpha refuse to argue with omega? It knew it always had the first word.
What it teaches
Being first is a starting line, not a finish; alpha only means anything because beta follows.
Quick facts
What does ALPHA mean?
The first letter of the Greek alphabet, often meaning the first or foremost.
Is ALPHA a valid word?
Yes — ALPHA is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is ALPHA?
ALPHA has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does ALPHA come from?
From Greek 'alpha', the name of the first letter, itself borrowed from Phoenician 'ʾalp' meaning 'ox' — the letter's shape descends from a pictograph of an ox's head.
What can ALPHA teach us?
Being first is a starting line, not a finish; alpha only means anything because beta follows.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.