Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

al|ler|gy /æ lə ^r dʒi/ (allergies ) N‑VAR If you have a particular allergy , you become ill or get a rash when you eat, smell, or touch something that does not normally make people ill. □  Food allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms.

al|le|vi|ate /əliː vie I t/ (alleviates , alleviating , alleviated ) VERB If you alleviate pain, suffering, or an unpleasant condition, you make it less intense or severe. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Nowadays, a great deal can be done to alleviate back pain. ●  al|le|via|tion /əliː vie I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Their energies were focussed on the alleviation of the refugees' misery.

al|ley /æ li/ (alleys )

1 N‑COUNT An alley is a narrow passage or street with buildings or walls on both sides.

2 → see also blind alley , bowling alley

a l|ley cat (alley cats ) N‑COUNT An alley cat is a cat that lives in the streets of a town, is rather fierce, and is usually not owned by anyone.

alley|way /æ liwe I / (alleyways ) also alley-way N‑COUNT An alleyway is the same as an alley .

al|li|ance ◆◇◇ /əla I əns/ (alliances )

1 N‑COUNT An alliance is a group of countries or political parties that are formally united and working together because they have similar aims. □  The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.

2 N‑COUNT [oft in N with n] An alliance is a relationship in which two countries, political parties, or organizations work together for some purpose. □ [+ with/between ] The trend has led to the formation of alliances between online-only retailers and traditional shops.

al|lied ◆◇◇ /æ la I d, [AM ] əla I d/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Allied forces or troops are armies from different countries who are fighting on the same side in a war. □  …the approaching Allied forces.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Allied countries, troops, or political parties are united by a political or military agreement. □  …forces from three allied nations. [Also + to ]

3 ADJ [ADJ n] If one thing or group is allied to another, it is related to it because the two things have particular qualities or characteristics in common. □ [+ to/with ] …lectures on subjects allied to health, beauty and fitness.

4 ADJ Something that is allied to another thing occurs with the other thing. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] He possessed a raw energy allied to a feeling of something special. □ [+ with ] …a disastrous rise in interest rates allied with a stock market slump.

al|li|ga|tor /æ l I ge I tə ^r / (alligators ) N‑COUNT An alligator is a large reptile with short legs, a long tail and very powerful jaws. WORD HISTORY alligator

The word alligator comes from Spanish el lagarto , meaning `the lizard'.

a ll-inclu sive ADJ [usu ADJ n] All-inclusive is used to indicate that a price, especially the price of a holiday, includes all the charges and all the services offered. □  An all-inclusive two-week holiday costs around £2880 per person.

al|lit|era|tion /əl I təre I ʃən/ (alliterations ) N‑VAR Alliteration is the use in speech or writing of several words close together which all begin with the same letter or sound. [TECHNICAL ]

al|lit|era|tive /əl I tərət I v, [AM ] -təre I t I v/ ADJ Alliterative means relating to or connected with alliteration. [TECHNICAL ] □  Her campaign slogan, 'a president for the people', was pleasantly alliterative but empty.