See Also: alpha-hydroxymethyl-alpha'-(N-acetylaminomethylene)succinic acid hydrolase(medicine)
15-hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic acid(medicine)
5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha-diol 26-hydroxylase(medicine)
alpha-dextrin endo-1,6-alpha-glucosidase(medicine)
7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one-12 alpha monooxygenase(medicine)
CMP-acetylneuraminate-alpha-N-acetylneuramide alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase(medicine)
cholesterol-5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxide hydrase(medicine)
NAD 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one-oxidoreductase(medicine)
5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase(medicine)
CMP-N-acetylneuraminate-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase(medicine)

alpha (iou)



alpha noun. ME.
[Latin from Greek.]
The first letter (, ) of the Greek alphabet; the beginning of anything. ME.
Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end (orig. as a title of God).
Denoting the first in a numerical sequence. E17.
b. attrib. Science. Freq. written : (a) Astronomy (preceding the genitive of the Latin name of the constellation) designating the chief star in a constellation; (b) Chemistry designating the first of a number of isomeric forms of a compound, or of allotropes of an element, etc.; (c) designating a positively-charged particle now known to be a helium nucleus, which is one of the three main types of decay product emitted by radioactive substances; also designating decay, emission, radiation, rays, etc., associated with such a particle; (d) alpha rhythm, alpha waves, the normal rhythmic electrical activity of the conscious brain, consisting of oscillations having a frequency of 8 to 13 hertz; (e) Medicine. alpha receptor, one of two kinds of adrenergic receptor in the sympathetic nervous system, stimulation of which results esp. in increased blood pressure; alpha-adrenergic adjective, pertaining to or involving alpha receptors; alpha-blocker, a drug preventing stimulation of alpha receptors; (f) alpha test, a test of machinery, software, etc., in course of development, carried out by the developer before it is made available for beta testing; alpha-test verb trans., perform an alpha test on. M18.
alpha GLOBULIN. alpha-hydroxy acid Chemistry any of a class of organic acids that contain a hydroxyl group bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the carboxylic acid group, often used in skincare preparations for their exfoliating properties; abbreviation AHA.
c. A first-class mark in an examination etc. E20.
alpha minus a mark just in the first class. alpha plus a superlatively good mark.
Zoology. Chiefly attrib. Designating the dominant animal within a single-sex group, as alpha male, alpha female, etc.; also (fig.) of people. M20.