alpha

plural alphas

1. countableuncountableThe name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.
2. countableuncountableLatin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ).
3. countableuncountablesciencesThe name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.

   I will attempt to make an alpha particle ("α-particle") with the Large Hadron Collider.

4. countableuncountablebusinessThe return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.

   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.

   2001, Cheng-Few Lee, editor, Advances in Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, volume 8, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 174

   1 more 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.

   2011 July 18, John Cassidy, “Mastering the Machine”, in The New Yorker, →ISSN

5. countableuncountableA person, especially a male, who is dominant, successful and attractive; (see alpha male).

   Being a beta male in a species with alphas doesn't mean you have to sit out the mating game.

   2008, Faye Flam, The Score: How the Quest for Sex Has Shaped the Modern Man, Avery, published 2008, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   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.

   2008, Mitzi Szereto, editor, The New Black Lace Book of Women's Sexual Fantasies, Black Lace, →ISBN, page 38

   This book is primarily for alpha males, or “top dogs.” We'll talk more about that later; but let's just say that if you are a man and successful in the world of trade, business, or profession, most likely you are an alpha, or you have been trained to act like an alpha.

   2009, Martin G. Groder, Pat Webster, Winning at Love: The Alpha Male's Guide to Relationship Success, Bascom Hill Books, →ISBN, page ix

6. abbreviationclippingcountableinformaluncountableClipping of alphabet.
7. countableuncountablecomputingThe first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer.

   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).

   2007, Mark Summerfield, Rapid GUI Programming with Python and Qt: The Definitive Guide to PyQt Programming, Pearson Education, →ISBN

8. countableuncountableaeronauticsAn angle of attack.
9. countableuncountablecomputer graphicsThe level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.
10. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablecomputer graphicsEllipsis of alpha layer.
11. countableuncountablemathematicsThe significance level of a statistical test; the alpha level.
12. countableslanguncountablelifestyleIn 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.

    Sometimes the alphas and omegas are rare, sometimes they are only males, sometimes they have altered sex organs.

    2013, Kristina Busse, “Pon Farr, Mpreg, Bonds, and the Rise of the Omegaverse”, in Anne Jamison, editor, Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World, page 317

    2 more examples

    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.

    2017, Marianne Gunderson, "What is an omega? Rewriting sex and gender in omegaverse fanfiction", thesis submitted to the University of Oslo, page 11

    Contrary to the typical scenario expected in a dark A/B/O story, in this story both Hannibal and Will are alphas—but Hannibal wants Will to be his omega; subservient and submissive to him only.

    2018, Laura Campillo Arnaiz, “When the Omega Empath Met the Alpha Doctor: An Analysis of Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics in the Hannibal Fandom”, in Ashton Spacey, editor, The Darker Side of Slash Fan Fiction, page 130

13. countableuncountableAlternative letter-case form of Alpha (“member of Generation Alpha”).

    Some of these old standards will feel alien to zoomers and alphas.

    2025 September 28, Rachel Aroesti, “In an era of AI slop and mid TV, is it time for cultural snobbery to make a comeback?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

1. not comparableDesignates the first in an order of precedence.

   I am the alpha male.

2. not comparableobject or actionExhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.

   And thank you. Seriously. I'll call you later. You better. I'm feeling pretty alpha now. Yes, you are.

   2015, Life Is Strange, Square Enix

3. not comparableastronomyDesignates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation.

   When interstellar travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.

4. abbreviationclippingnot comparableClipping of alphabetical.

   Sort the list in alpha order.

1. A placename.
   1. A ghost town in California, United States (USA).
   2. A village in Illinois, United States.
   3. A village in Michigan, United States.
   4. A city and village in Minnesota, United States.
   5. A borough of New Jersey, United States.
   6. A town in Queensland, Australia.
2. Former name of the International Space Station.
3. computingA RISC CPU instruction set architecture developed and marketed by Digital Equipment Corporation (then later by Compaq and then Hewlett-Packard) from 1992 until 2004.

plural Alphas

1. Alternative letter-case form of alpha.
2. A member of Generation Alpha.

   They are being partially replaced by a new generation – the Alphas, which cover children aged nine or under and account for 12 per cent of all Australians.

   2022 June 28, Shane Wright, Carla Jaeger, “Gen Xers squeezed by their parents, children”, in The Sydney Morning Herald

   1 more example

   And if, as Twenge argues, the proliferation of internet-enabled devices is the defining factor in Gen Z’s profile — and the main root of its problems — the Alphas, or Polars, remain an open question.

   2023 April 20, Casey Schwartz, “Jean Twenge is ready to make you defend your generation again”, in The Washington Post

   Synonyms: Gen Alpha, Generation Alpha