a

a1 [ eı ] (plural a's) or A (plural A's) noun

1. ) count or uncount the first letter of the English alphabet. A is a vowel.

2. ) A count or uncount the sixth note in the musical SCALE of C major

3. ) A count or uncount a mark that a teacher gives to a student's work to show that it is excellent

4. ) A uncount a common BLOOD TYPE

from A to B

from one place to another:

What's the cheapest way of getting our products from A to B?

=> A-BOMB, A-LINE, A-LIST, A TO Z

a2 [ weak ə, strong eı ] or an [ weak ən, strong æn ] determiner ***

A or an is used as an indefinite article, usually followed by a singular countable noun.

A is used when the next word begins with a consonant.

An is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound.

When a word begins with the letter u that is pronounced /ju:/, the word is treated as starting with a consonant:

a university.

When a word begins with a silent h, it is treated as starting with a vowel:

an hour.

The names of the letters f, h, l, m, n, r, s, and x begin with vowel sounds, so abbreviations that begin with one of these letters are treated as starting with a vowel:

an X-ray

an SUV.

1. ) used when you are mentioning a person or a thing for the first time, or when the person listening to you does not already know about them:

I have an idea.

There's a concert on Sunday night.

2. ) used when you mean any person or thing of a particular type, but you are not referring to one specifically:

You need a dictionary.

I don't have an umbrella.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

3. ) used when you say what class, type, or group someone or something belongs to, or what job someone has:

Ruth's father was a lawyer.

He's a liar and a cheat.

Greece has been a republic since 1973.

4. ) used before a singular noun that represents every person or thing of a particular type:

A dog needs regular exercise.

A molecule consists of two or more atoms.

5. ) used when you are referring to a person or thing as one of several:

I want you to meet a friend of mine.

He's a member of the team.

6. ) used in expressions of quantity such as a lot, a few, or a great deal :

a lot of money

a few friends

We all appreciate a little encouragement.

7. ) used in numbers and measurements to mean one, as in a thousand or an hour :

a million dollars

a hundred years ago

a minute or two

8. ) used in phrases showing how much something costs, how often it happens, how fast it goes, etc.:

Meetings are held four times a year (=four times every year).

Peaches are 99 cents a pound (=each pound costs 99 cents).

The car was traveling at 90 miles an hour.

9. ) used before a noun that means a substance, product, food, etc. when referring to a particular type of it:

Brie is a soft creamy cheese.

Plants won't grow in a soil that contains too much lime.

10. ) used before the name of some drinks to mean a cup or glass of that drink:

I'll just have a beer, thanks.

Would you like a cola?

11. ) used before a noun that means a particular quality or feeling when the quality or feeling is described in some way:

Sales staff must have a good working knowledge of French.

They fought back with a fierce determination that surprised the invaders.

12. ) used before a noun that is formed from a verb and means a single action of that verb:

Can I have a try?

Let's take a walk around the garden.

13. ) used before a noun that expresses your feelings about a situation:

It's a relief to know they're safe.

What a shame he couldn't be there to receive the prize!

14. ) used before the name of a particular day, season, or holiday to mean one particular Tuesday, summer, Christmas, etc.:

It was a bitterly cold winter.

She was born at six o'clock on a Sunday morning.

15. ) used before a person's name when you do not know anything about them:

There's a Mr. Alex Murray asking to see you.

1

a ) used before the name of a famous artist to mean a picture by that artist:

The gallery has recently acquired a Picasso.

1

b ) used before a family name to mean a member of that family:

Remember you're an Osborne it's a name to be proud of.

1

c ) used before the name of a famous person to mean someone else with similar abilities, a similar appearance, or a similar personality:

Already he is being hailed as a young Albert Einstein.