Word: alpha Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *ʔalp- Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾlp)bor. Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor. English alpha From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph. Pronunciation: /ˈæl.fə/, [ˈæɫ.fə], /ˈæːl.fɑː/, /ˈɑːl.fɑː/, /ˈəl.fɑː/ 1. The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. Latin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ). Labels: countable, uncountable 3. The name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I will attempt to make an alpha particle ("α-particle") with the Large Hadron Collider. 4. The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Similarly, alphas are 2.33% larger than that of the equivalent monthly alphas using compounded returns while no changes can be found using arithmetic returns. Example: To investment professionals, “alpha” is the return over and above the market return. If in a given year the S. & P. 500 returns fifteen per cent and an equity-fund manager generates a return of twenty per cent, his alpha is five per cent. 5. A person, especially a male, who is dominant, successful and attractive; (see alpha male). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Being a beta male in a species with alphas doesn't mean you have to sit out the mating game. Example: I'm still turned on by alpha males. I think there are only a couple of other men that turn me on . . . ones that are clearly not alphas. 6. Clipping of alphabet. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, informal, uncountable 7. The first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: We will assume you got the .tgz version—later 2.x series versions such as 2.5.2 or 2.6.0 should be okay, provided they are production releases (not alphas, betas, or release candidates). 8. An angle of attack. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. Ellipsis of alpha layer. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable 11. The significance level of a statistical test; the alpha level. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. In omegaverse fiction, a person of a dominant secondary sex driven by biology, magic, or other means to bond with an omega, with males of this type often having canine-like genitalia. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: Sometimes the alphas and omegas are rare, sometimes they are only males, sometimes they have altered sex organs. Example: Sherlock realizes that John, despite being an alpha, sees and loves Sherlock for who he is, "a brilliant, mad, nutter of a man," instead of only wanting him for his reproductive functions, his ability to become pregnant. 13. Alternative letter-case form of Alpha (“member of Generation Alpha”). Labels: alt-of, countable, uncountable Example: Some of these old standards will feel alien to zoomers and alphas.