Oxford Basic American Dictionary

don't like being alone in the house. My grandmother lives alone.

—SYNONYM on your own , by yourself

only

You alone can help me. Which word? Alone or lonely?

Alone means that you are not with other people: She lived alone in an apartment downtown.

Lonely means that you are unhappy because you are not with other people: He felt lonely at the new school without his old friends.

a . long 2 Ф / эЪд / adverb

forward

He drove along very slowly.

with someone

We're going for a walk. Why don't you come along too?

a • long • side / эДэц' said / preposition, adverb

next to something

Put your bike alongside mine.

Nick caught up with me and rode alongside.

a • loud / э ' laud / adverb

in a normal speaking voice that other people can hear

I read the story aloud to my sister.

a I. pha . bet Ф / 'acifoh-t / noun [ count ]

( english language arts ) all the letters of a language The English alphabet starts with A and ends with Z.

al • pha • bet • i • cal / ,®Цэ ' betikl / adjective

in the order of the alphabet

Put these words in alphabetical order (= with words beginning with A first, then B, then C, etc. ) ► al • pha • bet • i • cal • ly / ^lfa'betikli / adverb The books are listed alphabetically.

a I . read .у О / ol'redi/ adverb

before now or before then

"Would you like some lunch?" "No, thank you — I've already eaten."

We ran to the station but the train had already left. Which word? Already or yet?

Yet means the same as already , but you only use yet in negative sentences and questions.

Look at these examples: I have read this book already. ♦ I haven't read this book yet. ♦ Have you read the book yet?

a I. soФ / 'olsou / adverb

a word you use to say that one more thing is true He plays several instruments and also writes music. The food is wonderful, and also very cheap.

—SYNONYM too Which word? Also or too?

You use also in writing, but you usually use too in spoken English.

Also usually goes before a main verb or after "is," "are," "were," etc.: He also enjoys reading. ♦ He has also been to Australia.

Too usually goes at the end of a phrase or sentence: We're going to the movies tomorrow. Would you like to come too?

al • tar / ' э^эг / noun [ count ]

( religion ) a high table used in a religious ceremony

al • ter AWL / ' э^г / verb ( al . ters , al . ter . ing , al . tered )

to make something different in some way; to change We altered our plans and will now stay for a week instead of ten days.

He had altered so much I hardly recognized him.

al • ter • a • tion awl| / ,эКэ'reijn / noun

[ count, noncount ]

a small change

We want to make a few alterations to the house before we move in.

al • ter • nate 1 aw / ' эltэrnэt /

one out of every two

He works alternate weeks (= he works the first week, he doesn't work the second week, he works again the third week, etc. ) .

with first one thing, then the other, then the first thing again, etc.

The cake had alternate layers of chocolate and vanilla.

that you can use, do, etc. instead of something else We took an alternate route to avoid the traffic.

al • ter • nate 2 aw