a·live (?-l?v?)adj.1. Having life; living. See Synonyms at living.2. In existence or operation; active: keep your hopes alive.3. Full of living or moving things; abounding: a pool alive with trout.4. Full of activity or animation; lively: a face alive with mischief.5. Sports In play; live: a foul called when the ball is alive.Idiom: alive to Aware of; sensitive to: alive to the moods of others.[Middle English : a-, in a specified state; see a-2 + live, life (from Old English l?f; see life).]a·live?ness n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.alive (??la?v) adj (postpositive) 1. (of people, animals, plants, etc) living; having life2. in existence; active: they kept hope alive; the tradition was still alive. 3. (immediately postpositive and usually used with a superlative) of those living; now living: the happiest woman alive. 4. full of life; lively: she was wonderfully alive for her age. 5. (usually foll by with) animated: a face alive with emotion. 6. (foll by to) aware (of); sensitive (to)7. (foll by with) teeming (with): the mattress was alive with fleas. 8. (Electronics) electronics another word for live2119. alive and kicking (of a person) active and in good health10. look alive! hurry up! get busy![Old English on l?fe in life] a?liveness nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014a?live (??la?v) adj. 1. living; existing; not dead or lifeless. 2. living (used for emphasis): the proudest person alive. 3. in force or operation; active: to keep hope alive. 4. full of energy and spirit; lively. 5. having the quality of life; vivid; vibrant: The room was alive with color. Idioms: 1. alive to, alert or sensitive to; aware of. 2. alive with, filled with; swarming with. [before 1000; Middle English; Old English on l?fe in life; see a-1] a?live?ness, n. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.aliveIf a person or animal is alive, they are not dead.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘alive’ in front of a noun. Don’t say, for example, ‘I have no alive relatives’ or ‘ They export alive animals’. Instead you use living to talk about people, or live /la?v/ to talk about animals.