alpha Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet
  2. noun the beginning of a series or sequence
    • the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end"--Revelations
  3. adjective satellite first in order of importance
    • the alpha male in the group of chimpanzees
    • the alpha star in a constellation is the brightest or main star
  4. adjective satellite early testing stage of a software or hardware product
    • alpha version

WordNet

Al"pha noun
Etymology
L. alpha, Gr. 'a`lfa, from Heb. aleph, name of the first letter in the alphabet, also meaning ox.
Definitions
  1. The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and hence used to denote the beginning.
    In am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Rev. xxii. 13.
    Formerly used also denote the chief; as, Plato was the alpha of the wits. ✍ In cataloguing stars, the brightest star of a constellation in designated by Alpha (α); as, α Lyræ.

Webster 1913