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Alton Towers
al·so /'ɔːlsəʊ/ adv as well; besides; too: You'll have to get a
passport, and you'll also need a visa. | The weather was not
only cold but also wet. (=both cold and wet)
1 Compare also, as well, and too
When you want to say that something exists or happens
in addition to something else, too and also are more
common than as well in informal and spoken English. As
well is used more often in written English. If the verb is
negative, you use not either in informal English: 'Does
she eat meat?' 'No, and she doesn't eat fish either'.
Neither is more formal: She eats neither meat nor fish.
2 Also usually comes before the main verb: Ben can also
play the guitar. Also usually follows the verb to be where it
is used alone as a main verb: Seattle is also a very nice
city. Too and as well usually are used at the end of a
clause: Seattle is a very nice city too/as well. Too and as
well are not used at the beginning of a sentence, but
also may be used at the beginning of a sentence,
especially in speech and informal writing.
'al·so-ran n 1 a horse that ran in a race but was not one of
the first three at the end 2 a person who has failed to win or
do well, e.g. in a competition or election
al·tar /'ɔːltə/ n a table or raised level surface used in a
religious ceremony, for example in the Christian service of
Communion. The word is often used in connection with
weddings. For example, if a woman talks about getting a
man to the altar, she means marrying him in a church. →
see Feature on page 000
'altar boy n a boy who helps a Catholic priest during the
church service
al·tar·piece /'ɔːltəpiːs||'ɔːr-/ n a painting or other work of
art placed above and behind an altar
Al·ta·vis·ta /ˌæltə'viːstə/ trademark a SEARCH ENGINE for find-
ing information on the INTERNET, owned by the DIGITAL
company
al·ter /'ɔːltə/ v 1 [I;T] to make or become different, but
without changing into something else: This shirt will have
to be altered; it's too large. | The village hasn't really altered
much since the last time I was there. 2 [T] especially AmE euph for
CASTRATE (an animal)
al·ter·a·tion /ˌɔltə'reɪʃən/ n 1 [U(of)] the act of making or
becoming different: My coat needs alteration. 2 [C(to)] a
change, especially a slight one; something changed: There
have been a few alterations to the timetable.
al·ter·ca·tion /ˌɔːltə'keɪʃən||-tər-/ n [C;U] fml (a) noisy argu-
ment or quarrel
al·ter e·go /ˌæltər 'iːgə, ˌɔl-/ n pl. alter egos Lat 1 a very
close and trusted friend 2 a side of one's character which is
different from one's usual character
al·ter·nate¹ /ɔːl'tɜːnət||'ɔːltər-, 'æl-/ adj 1 (of two things)
happening by turns; first one and then the other: a week of
alternate rain and sunshine 2 one of every two; every
second: He works on alternate days. 3 [A] especially AmE
instead of another; alternative: an alternate plan/suggestion
—ly adv: The play is alternately sombre and comical.
al·ter·nate² /'ɔːltəneɪt||-ər-/ v [(with, between);T] to (cause to)
follow by turns: We alternated periods of work and sleep. |
Work alternated with sleep. | His moods alternated between
happiness and gloom. | She treated him with alternating
affection and contempt. —nation /ˌɔːltə'neɪʃən||-tər-/ n
[C;U]
alternating 'current n [U] a flow of electricity that regu-
larly changes direction at a very fast rate → compare DIRECT
CURRENT
al·ter·na·tive¹ /ɔːl'tɜːnətɪv||ɔːl'tɜːr-, æl-/ adj [A no
comp.] 1 (of two or more things) that may be used, had,
done etc instead of another; other: We returned by the
alternative road. | several alternative possibilities 2 different
from what is usual or TRADITIONAL: alternative sources of
energy, such as wave power and wind power 3 (especially of
modern young people and what they do) not based on or
not accepting the established standards of ordinary society:
the alternative press | alternative theatre —ly adv: You're
welcome to come with us now in our car. Alternatively you
could go later with Mary.
alternative² n [(to)] 1 a chance to choose or decide between
two or more possible things, courses of action etc: I'm afraid
I have no alternative but to report you to the
police. 2 something, especially a course of action, that may
be taken or chosen instead of one or more others: The only
alternative to being taken prisoner was to die fighting. | We
had to fight: there was no (other) alternative. | There are
several alternatives to your plan. 3 there is no alternative a
phrase used by Margaret Thatcher to defend her economic
policies (POLICY), now often used humorously
Sentences such as We have several alternatives to
choose from are very common, but are often thought to
be incorrect because there should be only two
alternatives.
al·ter·na·tive 'comedy n [U] a funny play, film, or other
work which is different and modern in its attitudes, subject
matter etc, especially by being non-RACIST, non-SEXIST etc
al·ter·na·tive 'medicine n [U] any method of preventing or
treating illness other than that usually used in Western
countries. Alternative medicine includes ACUPUNCTURE, CHI-
NESE MEDICINE, HERBAL MEDICINE, HOMEOPATHY, and osteo-
pathy (OSTEOPATH). In Britain and the US these are not
usually covered by the NHS or health INSURANCE, so people
who want to use them usually have to pay for them. → see
also COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
CULTURAL NOTE Alternative medicine Today many
people in the UK and US choose to be treated by
alternative medicine or complementary medicine. Chinese
medicine is also increasingly popular. Most alternative
medicine is not available on the National Health Service in
the UK, and people have to pay for their treatment. Since
the early 1980s alternative medicine has become more
and more popular, and although it is not officially accepted
by the medical profession, some doctors do accept that
such methods can be effective in treating some types of
illness.
al·ter·na·tor /'ɔːltəneɪtə||'ɔːltər, -'æl-/ n an electric GEN-
ERATOR for producing ALTERNATING CURRENT → see picture
at ENGINE
al·though /ɔːl'ðəʊ/ conj 1 in spite of the fact that; THOUGH:
They are generous although they are poor. | Although my car
is very old, it still runs very well. 2 but; HOWEVER: The price
increase will obviously be unpopular, although it's unlikely to
reduce demand.
al·ti·me·ter /'æltɪmiːtər||æl'tɪmətər/ n an instrument used,
especially in an aircraft, for recording height
al·ti·tude /'æltɪtjuːd||-tuːd/ n 1 [C usually sing.] the height of
an object or place above sea level: The plane flew at an
altitude of 30,000 feet. | What is the altitude of the top of the
mountain? → compare ELEVATION 2 also altitudes a high
area: At high altitudes it is difficult to breathe.
Alt·man, Robert /'ɔːltmən, 'rɒbət||'rɑːbərt/ (1925– ) an
American film director whose films include M*A*S*H
(1970), The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), and Gosford Park
(2001).
al·to /'æltəʊ/ n pl. -tos 1 also countertenor (a man with) a
very high male singing voice, higher than a TENOR 2 also
contralto (a woman with) a low female singing voice, lower
than SOPRANO 3 a musical instrument with the same range
of notes as these —alto adj, adv: an alto saxophone/to sing
alto
al·to·geth·er¹ /ˌɔːltə'geðə/ adv 1 completely; thoroughly:
That's an altogether different matter/That's a different matter
altogether. | We weren't altogether surprised when he arrived
late. 2 considering all things; on the whole: It rained a lot,
but altogether it was a good trip. → see ABSOLUTELY (USAGE)
altogether² n in the altogether humor without clothes; NUDE:
Several of the men were parading around in the altogether.
Al·ton Tow·ers /ˌɔltən 'taʊəz||-ɚz/ trademark a large
AMUSEMENT PARK in Staffordshire, central England, which
has RIDES (=large machines that people ride on to be
frightened for pleasure), games, gardens etc, and is a popular
place for families to visit