📖 A — The English dictionary · page 24

alexia — Everyday, meaning 1: (medicine) A loss of the ability to read, usually after damage to the brain, for example from a stroke, in someone who could read before.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (a name) Alexia is a girl's name.↗ Example: After her stroke, Grandma had alexia for a while.↗ · Alexia means a person who could read loses that skill.↗ · Alexia is in my netball team.↗ · Doctors helped him relearn reading after alexia.↗ · Alexia read her story to the class.↗ · Alexia is rare compared with dyslexia.↗

alga — Everyday, meaning 1: An alga is a single simple plant-like living thing that grows in water or damp places and makes food from sunlight; it has no roots, stems, leaves or flowers.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Usually the word is used in the plural, algae: the green slime in ponds, the green on fish tanks, and seaweeds are all algae.↗ Example: Algae made the pond look green.↗ · One tiny alga can only be seen under a microscope.↗ · Seaweed is a kind of algae.↗ · Algae make food from sunlight like plants.↗ · We cleaned the algae off the fish tank glass.↗ · Watch out, the rocks are slippery with algae.↗ · Some blue-green algae are poisonous to dogs.↗ · Fish and tadpoles eat algae.↗

algae — Everyday, meaning 1: Simple plant-like living things, usually green, brown or red, that grow in water or damp places and make their own food from sunlight.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The green slime or scum seen on ponds, rocks, fish tanks and swimming pools.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Seaweeds are large algae.↗ Example: Algae turned the pond water bright green.↗ · Be careful — the rocks are slippery with algae.↗ · Seaweed is a kind of algae that grows in the sea.↗ · Algae make food from sunlight, like plants do.↗ · Tiny animals in the sea eat algae.↗ · We cleaned the algae off the inside of the fish tank.↗ · The sign warned that toxic algae made the lake unsafe for swimming.↗

algebra — Everyday, meaning 1: Algebra is the part of maths that uses letters and symbols, such as x or n, to stand for numbers that are unknown or that can change.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Algebra is also the rules for working with these letters in expressions, equations and formulas.↗ Example: In algebra, we can use n to stand for any number.↗ · Algebra helps us solve problems like «I think of a number, add 5 and get 12».↗ · If 2x = 10, algebra tells us x = 5.↗ · Our algebra homework was about simplifying expressions.↗ · The formula for the perimeter of a square is P = 4s; that's algebra.↗ · The word algebra comes from Arabic.↗ · My big sister says algebra is like a puzzle with letters.↗ · Then he tried to do the sum by algebra, by simple and by quadratic equations, by trigonometry, by logarithms, and by conic sections.↗

algonquian — Everyday, meaning 1: A large family of Native American and First Nations languages of North America, including Cree, Ojibwe, Mi'kmaq and Blackfoot.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Describing the peoples who speak these languages.↗ Example: Cree is an Algonquian language.↗ · The word «moose» comes from an Algonquian language.↗ · Algonquian peoples lived across a huge area of North America.↗ · We learned Algonquian place names in Canada.↗ · Ojibwe and Mi'kmaq are Algonquian too.↗ · Many Algonquian languages are still spoken today.↗

algorithm — Everyday, meaning 1: An algorithm is a list of clear, step-by-step instructions for solving a problem or doing a task.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In computing, an algorithm is the set of rules a computer program follows, for example to sort a list or to choose what videos to show you.↗ Example: Write an algorithm for making a cup of tea.↗ · An algorithm must be precise, or the robot gets confused.↗ · Long division is an algorithm for dividing big numbers.↗ · The video app's algorithm suggests new videos.↗ · We debugged our algorithm because the steps were in the wrong order.↗ · A sorting algorithm puts numbers in order from smallest to largest.↗

alhamdulillah — Everyday, meaning 1: (Arabic, Islam) A phrase meaning «praise be to God» or «thanks be to God», said by Muslims to thank God, for good news and in everyday life.↗ It is not an English word.↗ Example: «How are you?»↗ «Alhamdulillah, I'm fine.»↗ · Alhamdulillah, the baby arrived safely.↗ · My friend says alhamdulillah after every meal.↗ · Alhamdulillah, we passed the test!↗ · Muslims believe in thanking God in good and hard times.↗ · Grandma smiled and said, «Alhamdulillah».↗

alibi — Everyday, meaning 1: (law) An alibi is proof that a person was somewhere else when a crime happened, so they could not have done it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) An alibi is an excuse.↗ Example: The butler had an alibi: he was at the shop.↗ · The detective checked every suspect's alibi.↗ · Her alibi was proved false by the CCTV.↗ · "I was with my gran" was his alibi.↗ · My alibi for being late was the bus.↗ · A cast-iron alibi cannot be broken.↗

alien — Everyday, meaning 1: A creature from another planet, in stories and films.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) Strange and very different from what you know.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal, law) A person who lives in a country but is not a citizen of it.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (science) An alien species is a plant or animal brought to a place where it does not naturally live.↗ Example: In the film, aliens came down in a spaceship.↗ · Scientists look for alien life on other planets.↗ · The big city felt alien to the boy from the farm.↗ · Rabbits are an alien species in Australia.↗ · Cheating is alien to her nature.↗ · The alien had three eyes and green skin.↗ · And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no alien eat thereof; (Torah EXO.12.43, JPS 1917)↗ · Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, our houses unto aliens.↗ (Writings LAM.5.2, JPS 1917)↗ · To keep thee from the evil woman, from the smoothness of the alien tongue.↗ (Writings PRO.6.24, JPS 1917)↗ · I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.↗ (Writings PSA.69.9, JPS 1917)↗

alienate — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: To transfer ownership of something to someone else, or to make someone feel distant or unfriendly.↗ Example: And they shall not sell of it, nor exchange, nor alienate the first portion of the land; for it is holy unto the LORD.↗ (Prophets EZK.48.14, JPS 1917)↗

alienated — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Turned away and separated, with feelings of love or loyalty gone cold.↗ Example: Be thou corrected, O Jerusalem, lest My soul be alienated from thee, lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.↗ (Prophets JER.6.8, JPS 1917)↗ · So she uncovered her harlotries, and uncovered her nakedness; then My soul was alienated from her, like as My soul was alienated from her sister.↗ (Prophets EZK.23.18, JPS 1917)↗ · For thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy soul is alienated; (Prophets EZK.23.28, JPS 1917)↗

alight — Everyday, meaning 1: Alight means on fire or burning.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Alight can mean shining with happiness or light, like eyes alight with joy.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To alight (formal) is to get off a bus, train or other vehicle.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To alight (formal) is for a bird or insect to land on something.↗ Example: The bonfire was soon alight.↗ · The curtains caught alight from the candle.↗ · Never set anything alight without an adult.↗ · Passengers should alight at the next stop.↗ · A butterfly alighted on the flower.↗ · Her eyes were alight with excitement.↗ · We alighted from the train at the seaside.↗ · The whole sky seemed alight at sunset.↗ · As for the peacock, it alighted on the old dame's shoulder.↗ · And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.↗ (Torah GEN.24.64, JPS 1917)↗ · And when Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said: 'Is all well?'↗ (Prophets 2KI.5.21, JPS 1917)↗ · And when Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed down to the ground.↗ (Prophets 1SA.25.23, JPS 1917)↗ · And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.↗ (Prophets JDG.4.15, JPS 1917)↗

align — Everyday, meaning 1: To put things in a straight line or in the right position next to each other.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To agree with or support a person, group or idea.↗ Example: Align the digits in columns before you add.↗ · She aligned the books neatly on the shelf.↗ · Click here to align the text to the centre.↗ · The planets appeared to align in the night sky.↗ · The two countries aligned themselves with each other.↗ · Align the edge of the ruler with the line.↗

alignment — Everyday, meaning 1: Arrangement in a straight line or in the right position: «the alignment of the wheels».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science) When planets or stars appear in a line in the sky.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Agreement or being on the same side: «in alignment with the rules».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (computing, writing) How text is lined up: left, centre, right.↗ Example: The mechanic checked the alignment of the car's wheels.↗ · Use a ruler to keep the alignment of your columns straight.↗ · Set the title's alignment to centre.↗ · The planets were in alignment in the evening sky.↗ · My front teeth are out of alignment, so I have a brace.↗ · The teams are in alignment about the plan.↗

alike — Everyday, meaning 1: Alike means very similar, looking or being almost the same («The twins look alike»).↗ Everyday, meaning 2: As an adverb, alike means in the same way («treat everyone alike»).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Alike can mean both, or equally («adults and children alike»).↗ Example: My sister and I look alike.↗ · The two triangles are alike in shape but not in size.↗ · Great minds think alike!↗ · The game is fun for children and adults alike.↗ · Treat all the pupils alike.↗ · No two snowflakes are exactly alike.↗ · How are frogs and toads alike?↗ · The cousins dress alike for every party.↗ · They all looked alike except as to size.↗ · Thou shalt eat it within thy gates; the unclean and the clean may eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.↗ (Torah DEU.15.22, JPS 1917)↗ · Howbeit as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat thereof; the unclean and the clean may eat thereof alike.↗ (Torah DEU.12.22, JPS 1917)↗ · They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.↗ (Writings JOB.21.26, JPS 1917)↗ · A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; (Writings PRO.27.15, JPS 1917)↗ · The small and great are there alike; and the servant is free from his master.↗ (Writings JOB.3.19, JPS 1917)↗

alimentary — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) To do with food and digestion.↗ Used mostly in "alimentary canal".↗ Example: The alimentary canal starts at the mouth.↗ · Food travels through the alimentary canal.↗ · The stomach is part of the alimentary canal.↗ · Draw and label the alimentary canal.↗ · The alimentary canal is several metres long in an adult.↗ · Digestion happens all along the alimentary canal.↗

alive — Everyday, meaning 1: Alive means living, not dead.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Alive means full of energy, activity or life.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Alive can mean still existing or working, like a hope or a tradition.↗ Example: Is the fish still alive?↗ · Plants are alive, but rocks are not.↗ · We were lucky to be alive after the storm.↗ · The street comes alive at night.↗ · The pond was alive with frogs.↗ · Water keeps plants alive.↗ · The old tradition is still alive.↗ · My great-grandma is still alive and well.↗ · 'So you are alive after all!↗ · And Moses said unto them: 'Have ye saved all the women alive?↗ (Torah NUM.31.15, JPS 1917)↗ · But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.↗ (Torah NUM.31.18, JPS 1917)↗ · But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.↗ (Torah DEU.4.4, JPS 1917)↗ · And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.↗ (Prophets JOS.8.23, JPS 1917)↗ · To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.↗ (Writings PSA.33.19, JPS 1917)↗ · Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; (Writings PSA.124.3, JPS 1917)↗

alkali — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) An alkali is a chemical that is the opposite of an acid; it can cancel out an acid.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science) An alkali dissolves in water and makes a solution with a pH above 7.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Strong alkalis, like some oven cleaners, can burn skin and eyes, just like strong acids.↗ Example: Soap is a mild alkali, so it feels slippery.↗ · We tested the liquids to see which were acids and which were alkalis.↗ · Litmus paper turns blue in an alkali.↗ · An alkali can neutralise an acid.↗ · Indigestion tablets contain a weak alkali that calms stomach acid.↗ · The oven cleaner is a strong alkali, so Mum wears rubber gloves.↗ · Toothpaste is slightly alkaline.↗ · Bicarbonate of soda makes an alkaline solution in water.↗

alkaline — Everyday, meaning 1: Alkaline describes a substance that is the opposite of an acid: it has a pH above 7, such as soap, baking soda or bleach.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An alkaline battery is a common kind of battery that uses an alkaline chemical inside.↗ Example: Soap is slightly alkaline.↗ · Red litmus paper turns blue in an alkaline solution.↗ · Baking soda makes the water alkaline.↗ · Bleach is strongly alkaline, so handle it with care.↗ · The TV remote uses alkaline batteries.↗ · Some plants grow best in alkaline soil.↗ · Our cabbage indicator turned green in the alkaline liquid.↗