the first letter and first vowel of the modern English alphabet any of several speech sounds represented by this letter, in English as in take, bag, calm, shortage, or cobra - Also called: alpha
the first in a series, esp the highest grade or mark, as in an examination - from A to Z ⇒
from start to finish, thoroughly and in detail
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
used preceding a singular countable noun, if the noun is not previously specified or known: a dog, a terrible disappointment used preceding a noun or determiner of quantity: a cupful, a dozen eggs, a great many, to read a lot - preceded by once, twice, several times, etc:
each or every; per: once a day, two pounds fifty a pound a certain; one: to change policy at a stroke, a Mr Khan called - (preceded by not)
any at all: not a hope
Compare
See
- an informal or dialect word for have
- (usually linked to the preceding noun) an informal form of of
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
a note having a frequency of 440 hertz (A above middle C) or this value multiplied or divided by any power of 2; the sixth note of the scale of C major the major or minor key having this note as its tonic a human blood type of the ABO group, containing the A antigen (in Britain) a major arterial road ampere(s) absolute (temperature) area - (in combination)
atomic: an A-bomb, an A-plant a universal affirmative categorical proposition, such as all men are mortal: often symbolized as SaP
Compare E, ,I 2 O 1 a person whose job is in top management, or who holds a senior administrative or professional position (as modifier): an A worker
See also occupation groupings
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
angstrom unit
'to a' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
-acea
- -aceae
- A, a
- ABC
- ABD
- Academy Award
- abaft
- abandon
- abaptiston
- abase
- abasia
- abate
- aberration
- abet
- able
- abort
- about
- about turn
- above
- abroad
- absolute
- absolute magnitude
- absolute music
- absolute value
- absorbed dose
- absorption band
- abstract
- abstract of title
- abyss
- academic
- academize
- acalculia
- accede
- accelerator
- accept
- acceptance
- acceptor
- access road
- accession
- accessory
- accessory fruit
- accessway
- acciaccatura
- acclimate
- acclimatize
- accommodation address
- accomplish
- accost
- account
- account payable