8-letter words starting with al
- alcandre — the wife of Polybus who received Helen and Menelaus on their way home from Troy.
- alcatraz — an island in W California, in San Francisco Bay: a federal prison until 1963
- alcazars — Plural form of alcazar.
- alcestis — the wife of king Admetus of Thessaly. To save his life, she died in his place, but was rescued from Hades by Hercules
- alchemic — a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life.
- alchevsk — a city in E Ukraine. Pop: 117 000 (2005 est)
- alchuine — (Ealhwine Flaccus) a.d. 735–804, English theologian and scholar: teacher and adviser of Charlemagne.
- alcidine — of, relating to, or belonging to the Alcidae, a family of sea birds including the auks, guillemots, puffins, and related forms
- alcimede — the mother of Jason.
- alcindor — (Ferdinand) Lew(is, Jr.) original name of Abdul-Jabbar.
- alcinous — (in Homer's Odyssey) a Phaeacian king at whose court the shipwrecked Odysseus told of his wanderings
- alcithoe — a daughter of Minyas who was driven mad for mocking Dionysus.
- alcmaeon — a son of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle who commanded the second expedition against Thebes. He killed his mother for sending his father to certain death and was driven mad by the Furies.
- alcohols — Plural form of alcohol.
- alcolock — a breath-alcohol ignition-interlock device fitted to the ignition in certain motor vehicles. The driver must blow into a tube and, if his or her breath contains too much alcohol, a lock is activated to prevent the vehicle starting
- alcopops — Plural form of alcopop.
- alcorcon — city in central Spain, near Madrid: pop. 140,000
- aldehyde — any organic compound containing the group -CHO. Aldehydes are oxidized to carboxylic acids and take part in many addition reactions
- alderfly — any of various neuropterous insects of the widely distributed group Sialoidea, such as Sialis lutaria, that have large broad-based hind wings, produce aquatic larvae, and occur near water
- alderman — In some parts of the United States and Canada, an alderman is a member of the governing body of a city.
- aldermen — Plural form of alderman.
- alderney — one of the Channel Islands, in the English Channel: separated from the French coast by a dangerous tidal channel (the Race of Alderney). Pop: 2294 (2001). Area: 8 sq km (3 sq miles)
- aldicarb — a crystalline compound, C7H14N2O2S, used as a pesticide against insects, mites and nematodes
- aldimine — (organic chemistry) An imine derived from an aldehyde; general formula RCH=NR.
- aldolase — an enzyme present in the body that breaks down fructose into triose sugars
- aldoxime — an oxime formed by reaction between hydroxylamine and an aldehyde
- aldridge — Ira Frederick ("the African Roscius") 1804?–67, U.S. actor, primarily in Europe.
- aleatory — dependent on chance
- alebench — a bench inside or in front of an alehouse
- alegrete — a city in SW Brazil.
- alehouse — An alehouse is a pub.
- aleichem — Sholom, real name Solomon Rabinowitz. 1859–1916, US Jewish writer, born in Russia. His works include Tevye the Milkman, which was adapted for the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof
- alekhine — Alexander. 1892–1946, Russian-born chess player who lived in France; world champion (1927–35, 1937–46)
- alemanni — a West Germanic people who settled in the 4th century ad between the Rhine, the Main, and the Danube
- alembert — Jean Le Rond [zhahn luh rawn] /ʒɑ̃ lə ˈrɔ̃/ (Show IPA), 1717?–83, French mathematician, philosopher, and writer: associate of Diderot.
- alembics — Plural form of alembic.
- alerting — fully aware and attentive; wide-awake; keen: an alert mind.
- aleurone — finely granulated protein present in seeds generally and forming the outer layer of cereal seeds
- aleutian — of, denoting, or relating to the Aleutian Islands, the Aleuts, or their language
- aleviate — Misspelling of alleviate.
- alewives — Plural form of alewife.
- alforjas — Plural form of alforja.
- alfresco — An alfresco activity, especially a meal, is one that takes place in the open air.
- algerian — Algerian means belonging or relating to Algeria, or its people or culture.
- algerine — of or relating to Algeria or its inhabitants
- algerita — agarita.
- algernon — a masculine name: dim. Algie, Algy
- algicide — any substance that kills algae
- algidity — (medicine) The state of being algid.
- alginate — a salt or ester of alginic acid