Meaning of a In English

• 0 used before a noun to refer to a single thing or person that has not been mentioned before, especially when you are not referring to a particular thing or person:

  • I've bought a car.

  • She's got a boyfriend.

  • There was a sudden loud noise.

  • What a shame that you couldn't go to the party.

  • I heard a child crying.

  • Is he a friend of yours (= one of your friends)?

  • She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

  • This is a very mild cheese.

  • Experts think the painting may be a Picasso (= by Picasso).

  • Can you ride a bike?

  • A cheetah can run faster than a lion.

  • A teacher needs to have a lot of patience.

  • I only have a limited knowledge of Spanish.

  • He has a great love of music.

  • There was a fierceness in her voice.

  • Take a look at this, Jez.

  • I'm just going to have a snack.

  • There was a knocking at the door.

  • I'd love a coffee.

  • All I had for lunch was a yogurt.

  • a cup and saucer

  • a knife and fork

  • a few days

  • a bit of wool

  • a lot of money

  • There's a Ms Evans to see you.

  • Is that a Wilson over there?

  • My birthday is on a Friday this year.

  • It's been a very wet June.

• 1 one:

  • a hundred

  • a thousand

  • a dozen

  • There were three men and a woman.

  • half a mile

  • a quarter of a kilo

  • three quarters of an hour

  • six tenths of a second

  • Take one tablet three times a day.

  • I swim once a week.

  • She earns $100,000 a year.

  • My plumber charges £30 an hour.

  • I pay £25 a week for my parking permit.

• 2 written abbreviation for amp

• 3 in or for each or every; per:

  • Take one tablet three times a day.

  • These shoes cost $30 a pair.

• 4 the first letter of the English alphabet

• 5 in Western music, the sixth note in the scale (= series of notes) that begins on the note C, or a set of notes based on this note

• 6 a mark that means excellent, given to something of the highest quality, esp. school work:

  • The teacher gave me an A for my essay.