alive

English Online Dictionary. What means alive‎? What does alive mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English alive, alife, olive, olife, on live, on life, from Old English on līf (“alive”, literally “in life" or "in (the) body”), from on (“on, in”) + līf, dative singular of līf (“life”). In this sense, replaced Old English cwic (whence English quick). Equivalent to a- +‎ life. Compare Dutch in leven (“alive”, literally “in life”), German am Leben (“alive”, literally “at life" or "at living”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈlaɪv/
• Rhymes: -aɪv

Adjective

alive (comparative more alive, superlative most alive)

1. Having life; living; not dead.
2. In a state of action; in force or operation; existent.

3. Busy with activity of many living beings; swarming; thronged; busy.
4. (of electrical wiring) Carrying electrical current; energized.

5. (in the construction "alive to") Aware of; sensitive to.
6. Sprightly; lively; brisk.
7. Susceptible, sensitive; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy.
8. (intensifier) Out of all living creatures.
9. (programming) Synonym of live

Usage notes

• Alive always follows the noun which it qualifies; for example, "The bee is alive". Before a noun, the adjectives living or live may be used with a similar meaning.

Synonyms

• (having life): alive and kicking, extant, vital; see also Thesaurus:alive
• (in a state of action): existing, extant; See also Thesaurus:existent
• (sprightly, lively, brisk): frisky, peppy, zestful; see also Thesaurus:active
• (carrying electrical current): energized, hot, live
• (out of all living creatures): ever, in the world

Antonyms

• dead

Derived terms

Translations

References

“alive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Alvie, Leiva, alvei, avile

Middle English

Adjective

alive

1. Alternative form of alyve