Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone's eyes are alight or if their face is alight , the expression in their eyes or on their face shows that they are feeling a strong emotion such as excitement or happiness. [LITERARY ] □ [+ with ] She paused and turned, her face alight with happiness.

3 VERB If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there. [LITERARY ] □ [V prep/adv] A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.

4 VERB When you alight from a train, bus, or other vehicle, you get out of it after a journey. [FORMAL ] [Also V ]

align /əla I n/ (aligns , aligning , aligned )

1 VERB If you align yourself with a particular group, you support them because you have the same political aim. □ [V pron-refl prep] There are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals. □ [V n prep] He has attempted to align the Socialists with the environmental movement. [Also V prep]

2 VERB If you align something, you place it in a certain position in relation to something else, usually parallel to it. □ [V n] A tripod will be useful to align and steady the camera. [Also V n prep]

align|ment /əla I nmənt/ (alignments )

1 N‑VAR An alignment is support for a particular group, especially in politics, or for a side in a quarrel or struggle. □  The church should have no political alignment.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The alignment of something is its position in relation to something else or to its correct position. □ [+ of ] …the alignment of mirrors in the telescope.

alike /əla I k/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If two or more things are alike , they are similar in some way. □  We looked very alike.

2 ADV [ADV after v] Alike means in a similar way. □  …their assumption that all men and women think alike.

3 ADV You use alike after mentioning two or more people, groups, or things in order to emphasize that you are referring to both or all of them. [EMPHASIS ] □  The techniques are being applied almost everywhere by big and small firms alike.

4 → see also lookalike USAGE alike

Don’t use ‘alike’ in front of a noun. Don’t say, for example, ‘ They wore alike hats ’. You say ‘They wore similar hats’. □  The two companies sell similar products.

ali|men|ta|ry ca|nal /æl I me ntri kənæ l/ (alimentary canals ) N‑COUNT The alimentary canal in a person or animal is the passage in their body through which food passes from their mouth to their anus.

ali|mo|ny /æ l I məni, [AM ] -moʊni/ N‑UNCOUNT Alimony is money that a court of law orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after they have got divorced. Compare palimony .

A -list

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An A-list celebrity is a celebrity who is very famous indeed. □  …an A-list Hollywood actress. □  Quinn's connections are strictly A-list.

2 N‑SING An A-list of celebrities is a group of celebrities who are very famous indeed. □ [+ of ] …the A-list of Hollywood stars.

alive ◆◇◇ /əla I v/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If people or animals are alive , they are not dead. □  She does not know if he is alive or dead. □  They kept her alive on a life support machine.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone seems alive , you mean that they seem to be very lively and to enjoy everything that they do. □  Our relationship made me feel more alive.

3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If an activity, organization, or situation is alive , it continues to exist or function. □  The big factories are trying to stay alive by cutting costs. □  Both communities have a tradition of keeping history alive.

4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a place is alive with something, there are a lot of people or things there and it seems busy or exciting. □ [+ with ] The river was alive with birds.