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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | on life 'in life' |
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a‧live S2 W3
[not before noun]
[not before noun]1 still living and not dead : It was a bad accident - they're lucky to be alive.
not dead
It was a bad accident - they're lucky to be alive.2 continuing to exist : Ancient traditions are very much alive in rural areas. Christianity is alive and well in Asia.
still existing
Ancient traditions are very much alive in rural areas.Christianity is alive and well in Asia.3 full of energy, happiness, activity etc :
cheerful
4
come alive
a) if a subject or event comes alive, it becomes interesting and seems real : Hopefully, we can make history come alive for the children.
Hopefully, we can make history come alive for the children.b) if someone comes alive, they suddenly become happy and interested in what is happening : She only came alive when she sat down at the piano.
She only came alive when she sat down at the piano.c) if a town, city etc comes alive, it becomes busy : seaside resorts that come alive in the summer
seaside resorts that come alive in the summer5 to know that a particular fact etc exists and that it is important : The company is alive to the threat posed by foreign imports.
be alive to a fact/possibility/danger etc
The company is alive to the threat posed by foreign imports.6 to be full of living things that are moving : The pond was alive with fish.
be alive with something
The pond was alive with fish.7 to make something interesting and real : The way he describes his characters really brings them alive.
bring something alive
The way he describes his characters really brings them alive.