A1

 
Pronunciation: /eɪ/
(also a)

noun (plural As or A's)

  • 1the first letter of the alphabet.
  • denoting the first in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc..
  • denoting the first of two or more hypothetical people or things: suppose A had killed B
  • the highest class of academic mark: a dazzling array of straight A’s
  • (in the UK) denoting the most important category of road, other than a motorway: the A34 busy A-roads
  • denoting the highest-earning socio-economic category for marketing purposes, including top management and senior professional personnel.
  • (a) Chess denoting the first file from the left, as viewed from White’s side of the board.
  • (usually a) the first constant to appear in an algebraic expression.
  • Geology denoting the uppermost soil horizon, especially the topsoil.
  • the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the A antigen and lacking the B.
  • (with numeral) denoting a series of international standard paper sizes each twice the area of the next, as A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, etc., A4 being 210 × 297 mm.
  • 2a shape like that of a capital A: [in combination]: an A-shape
  • 3 Music the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major. The A above middle C is usually used as the basis for tuning and in modern music has a standard frequency of 440 Hz.
  • a key based on a scale with A as its keynote.

Phrases

from A to B

from one’s starting point to one’s destination: most road atlases will get you from A to B

from A to Z

over the entire range; completely: make sure you understand the subject from A to Z