- alive
- [[t]əla͟ɪv[/t]]
♦♦♦1) ADJ: v-link ADJ, keep n 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.
Ant:2) ADJ-GRADED: 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.She seemed more alive and looked forward to getting up in the morning...
I never expected to feel so alive in my life again.
3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, keep n 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.
Ant:4) ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n If a place is alive with something, there are a lot of people or things there and it seems busy or exciting.The river was alive with birds...
The street was alive with the sounds of the soldiers.
5) ADJ: v-link ADJ to n/wh If you are alive to a situation or problem, you are aware of it and realize how important it is.You must be alive to opportunity!...
He was alive to what he was doing.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If people, places, or events come alive, they start to be lively again after a quiet period. If someone or something brings them alive, they cause them to come alive.The doctor's voice had come alive and his small eyes shone.
...the songs of birds that bring the garden alive.
7) PHRASE: V inflects If a story or description comes alive, it becomes interesting, lively, or realistic. If someone or something brings it alive, they make it seem more interesting, lively, or realistic.She made history come alive with tales from her own memories...
From here on he brings the character confidently alive.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone will be eaten alive, you mean that they will be completely destroyed or defeated by someone who is much stronger. [INFORMAL]He was certain Sid would be eaten alive by the hardened criminals in the jail.
9) PHRASE: v-link PHR (emphasis) If you say that someone or something is alive and kicking, you are emphasizing not only that they continue to survive, but also that they are very active.There are growing worries that the secret police may still be alive and kicking.
10) PHRASE: v-link PHR (emphasis) If you say that someone or something is alive and well, you are emphasizing that they continue to survive.A Yorkshire farmer who went missing yesterday during a blizzard has been found alive and well.
English dictionary. 2008.
