English words starting with a

Meanings of A:

determiner

Used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation.

Usage examples:

A man came out of the room

abbreviation

(in travel timetables) arrives.

Usage examples:

Penzance a 0915

symbol

(in units of measurement) atto- (10−18).

prefix

Not; without.

Usage examples:

Atheistic

suffix

Forming ancient or latinized modern names of animals and plants.

Usage examples:

Primula

noun

The first letter of the alphabet.

Usage examples:

Suppose a had killed b

Acceleration.

preposition

In or for each or every; per

Usage examples:

Take one tablet three times a day., these shoes cost $30 a pair., the teacher gave me an a for my e…

Meanings of A bit much a bite at the cherry a busy bee:

adjective

Something that is missing cannot be found because it is not where it should be

Usage examples:

The burglars have been arrested but the jewellery is still missing., when did you realize that the …

Meanings of A bit much:

To be a situation, or type of behaviour that is unreasonable, or more than you can deal with

Usage examples:

I thought being asked to miss my lunch was a bit much.

phrase

Somewhat excessive or unreasonable.

Usage examples:

His earnestness can be a bit much

Meanings of A bite at the cherry:

phrase

An attempt or opportunity to do something.

Usage examples:

The team had victory snatched from their grasp, and could well have had their last bite at the cherry

idiom

Another opportunity to do something

Usage examples:

He missed a medal in the 100 metres, but will get a second bite of the cherry in the 400 metres.

Meanings of A bone of contention:

idiom

Something that two people or groups cannot agree about

Usage examples:

Money is a common bone of contention in many marriages.

Meanings of A cut above:

phrase

Noticeably superior to.

Usage examples:

She's a cut above the rest

idiom

Someone who is of a higher social class

Usage examples:

She thinks she's a cut above her neighbours.

Meanings of A dime a dozen:

Common and not special

Usage examples:

Plastic toys like this are a dime a dozen.

phrase

Very common and of no particular value.

Usage examples:

Experts in this field are a dime a dozen

Meanings of A dog in the manger:

noun

A person who has no need of, or ability to use, a possession that would be of use or value to others, but who prevents others from having it.

Usage examples:

What a dog in the manger you must be!

idiom

Someone who keeps something that they do not want in order to prevent someone else from getting it

Meanings of A fish out of water:

idiom

Someone who is uncomfortable in a specific situation

Usage examples:

I felt like a fish out of water at my new school.

Meanings of A good deal:

phrase

A large amount.

Usage examples:

I don't know a great deal about politics

Meanings of A great deal:

idiom

To a very great degree or extent

phrase

A large amount.

Usage examples:

I don't know a great deal about politics

Meanings of A hair’s breadth:

idiom

A very small distance or amount

Usage examples:

His finger was within a hair's breadth of touching the alarm., she came within a hair's breadth of …

Meanings of A leopard can’t change its spots:

idiom

Something you say that means a person's character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend that it will

Meanings of A little bird told me:

phrase

Used to indicate that the speaker knows something but chooses to keep the identity of their informant secret.

Usage examples:

A little bird told me it was your birthday

idiom

Used to say that you have heard a piece of information about someone from someone else

Usage examples:

"how did you know it was my birthday?" "α little bird told me.", a little bird told me that they us…

Meanings of A lone wolf:

noun

A very independent or solitary person.

Usage examples:

He's a lone wolf; that's what made him a successful foreign correspondent

Meanings of A lot:

phrase

Lots (of) a large amount or number of people or things

Usage examples:

She eats lots of fruit., there were a lot of people there., he does a lot of travelling in his job.…

collocation

To expect or demand more than is usual, reasonable, or fair

Usage examples:

It's asking a lot when your boss wants you to work weekends as well as evenings., it is asking a lo…

Meanings of A man of his word:

idiom

Someone who keeps their promises

Usage examples:

You can trust him - he's a man of his word.

Meanings of A million and one:

idiom

Very many

Usage examples:

I can't talk right now - i have a hundred and one things to do this morning.

Meanings of A penny for your thoughts:

phrase

Used to ask someone what they are thinking about.

Usage examples:

I haven't heard anyone say that for years - a penny for your thoughts.

idiom

I would like to know what you are thinking

Usage examples:

You haven't said very much – a penny for your thoughts.

Meanings of A penny saved is a penny earned:

idiom

Something you say that means it is wise to save money

Usage examples:

I'd advise anyone to put aside a proportion of their earnings - a penny saved is a penny earned.

Meanings of A rare bird:

noun

An exceptional person or thing; a rarity.

Usage examples:

The style is a rare bird in brazilian music

Meanings of A second bite at the cherry:

phrase

An attempt or opportunity to do something.

Usage examples:

The team had victory snatched from their grasp, and could well have had their last bite at the cherry

idiom

Another opportunity to do something

Usage examples:

He missed a medal in the 100 metres, but will get a second bite of the cherry in the 400 metres.

Meanings of A sight for sore eyes:

phrase

A person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see.

Usage examples:

The mighty cairngorms are a sight for sore eyes in any rambler's book

idiom

Someone or something that you are happy to see

Usage examples:

After twenty hours of driving, my family was a sight for sore eyes.

Meanings of A snowball’s chance in hell:

phrase

No chance at all.

Usage examples:

The scheme has a snowball's chance in hell of being accepted

idiom

To have no chance of succeeding

Usage examples:

If he can't afford a good lawyer, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the case.

Meanings of A stitch in time saves nine:

phrase

If you sort out a problem immediately it may save a lot of extra work later.

Usage examples:

The lead officer said: ‘it's a case of a stitch in time saves nine.’

idiom

Said to mean that it is better to act or deal with problems immediately, because if you wait and deal with them later, things will get worse and the problems will take longer to deal with