1the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), transliterated as ‘a’.
[as modifier] denoting the first of a series of items or categories, e.g. forms of a chemical compound:the α and β chains of haemoglobin
British a first-class mark given for an examination paper or piece of school or college work:he had been awarded alpha double plus
[as modifier] Zoology & Sociology denoting the dominant animal or human in a particular group:the pack is a tightly knit, highly organized group, led by an alpha wolfSee also alpha male.
[as modifier] informal denoting a person who has a dominant role or position within a particular sphere:take turns cooking for each other if one of you is too much of an alpha chef
