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The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

A1 / ā/ (also a) • n. (pl. As or A's ) 1. the first letter of the alphabet. ∎  denoting the first in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc. ∎  denoting the first of two or more hypothetical people or things: suppose A had killed B. ∎  the highest class of academic mark. ∎  (usu. a) the first fixed quantity in an algebraic expression. ∎  (A) the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the A agglutinogen and lacking the B. 2. a shape like that of a capital A: [in comb.] an A-shape. See also A-frame, A-line. 3. Mus. the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major. ∎  a key based on a scale with A as its keynote. PHRASES: from A to Z over the entire range; completely: make sure you understand the subject from A to Z. A2 • abbr. ∎  ace (used in describing play in bridge and other card games): you cash AK of hearts. ∎  ampere(s). ∎  (Å) ångstrom(s). ∎  answer. ∎  (in personal ads) Asian. ∎  a dry cell battery size.

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The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

a / ā; ə/ (an before a vowel sound) [called the indefinite article] • adj. 1. used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation: a man came out of the room. Compare with the. ∎  used with units of measurement to mean one such unit: a hundred. ∎  one single; any: I simply haven't a thing to wear. ∎  used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the speaker: a Mr. Smith telephoned. ∎  someone like (the name specified): you're no better than a Hitler. 2. used to indicate membership of a class of people or things: he is a lawyer. 3. used when expressing rates or ratios; in, to, or for each; per: typing 60 words a minute.

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music | 1996 | | Copyright

a (It.), à (Fr.). At, by, for, with, in, to, in the manner of, etc. For expressions beginning with ‘a’ or ‘à’, e.g. a cappella, a tempo, see under their own entries.

‘A 2’ in orch. scores and parts directs (a) 2 instr. that normally play separate parts (e.g. the 2 ob. or 2 fl.) to play in unison, or (b) 2 or more instr. that normally play in unison (e.g. 1st vns.) to divide to play the separate parts provided for them.
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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A

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

A first letter of the alphabet . A is a usual symbol for a low central vowel, as in father; the English long a ( ā ) is pronounced as a diphthong of ĕ and y. The corresponding letter of the Greek alphabet is named alpha. Alpha and omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolize the beginning and the end and, in the New Testament, Christ. In musical notation the letter is the symbol of a note in the scale.

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

A (1) Symbol of emptiness (śūnyatā) and of the undifferentiated source of appearance in Zen Buddhism. In Japanese esoteric Buddhism (mikkyō), aji, the first sound in the Sanskrit alphabet, contains the epitome of all truth, and as such is a key element in meditation. Aji-kan is meditation on the letter A.
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The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

A The first letter of the modern English alphabet and of the ancient Roman one, corresponding to Greek alpha and Hebrew aleph.
A1 excellent, first-rate; in Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it is used of ships in first-class condition as to hull (A) and stores (1).
See also exhibit A.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "A." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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A

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

A first letter of the Roman alphabet. It evolved from the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph representing the head of an ox. The Hebrews adapted it as the first letter of their alphabet, calling it aleph, meaning ox, from where it evolved into the Greek alpha. The letter a is a vowel.
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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

A (2) (Gk., alpha). First letter of the Greek alphabet, combined with the last, Ω (omega), to refer to God as the beginning and the end, the all-encompassing.
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a

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

a2 ME. o, a in a distributive sense, e.g. twice a day, reduced form of ON; surviving in comps. of A-1, and NOWADAYS; linked with a gerund, as in go a-begging, etc.
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T. F. HOAD. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-a1.html

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

a1 reduced form of AN1 used since XII immed. before a word beginning with a cons. For the loss of n cf. MY, THY, NO2, and i', o' for IN, ON.
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A

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

A used in the symbol A1, applied in Lloyd's Register to ships in first-class condition in respect of hull (A) and stores (1).
Hence A1 adj. first-class.
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A

A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology | 2004 | | Copyright

A. The first letter of the modern English alphabet was known as ailm [pine] in the ogham alphabet of early Ireland.
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "A." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES MacKILLOP. "A." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-A.html

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

A (3) Letter of negation in several languages, as in, e.g., atheism, adharma.
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α

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

α Symbol for right ascension.
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Å

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

Å Symbol for angstrom.
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Å

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations | 1998 | | Copyright

Å Physics, symbol for angstrom unit
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Å." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Å." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-Aring.html

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Å." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-Aring.html

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