From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
alive
adj 1: possessing life; "the happiest person alive"; "the nerve
is alive"; "doctors are working hard to keep him alive";
"burned alive"; "a live canary" [syn: {alive(p)}, live]
[ant: dead]
2: (often followed by `with') full of life and spirit; "she was
wonderfully alive for her age"; "a face alive with mischief"
3: having life or vigor or spirit; "an animated and expressive
face"; "animated conversation"; "became very animated when he
heard the good news" [syn: animated, alive] [ant:
unanimated]
4: (followed by `to' or `of') aware of; "is alive to the moods
of others"
5: in operation; "keep hope alive"; "the tradition was still
alive"; "an active tradition" [syn: active, {alive(p)}]
6: mentally perceptive and responsive;"an alert mind"; "alert to
the problems"; "alive to what is going on"; "awake to the
dangers of her situation"; "was now awake to the reality of
his predicament" [syn: alert, {alive(p)}, {awake(p)}]
7: capable of erupting; "a live volcano"; "the volcano is very
much alive" [syn: alive, live]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Alive \A*live"\, a. [OE. on live, AS. on l[imac]fe in life;
l[imac]fe being dat. of l[imac]f life. See Life, and cf.
Live, a.]
1. Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a
state in which the organs perform their functions; as, an
animal or a plant which is alive.
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2. In a state of action; in force or operation;
unextinguished; unexpired; existent; as, to keep the fire
alive; to keep the affections alive.
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3. Exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings;
swarming; thronged.
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The Boyne, for a quarter of a mile, was alive with
muskets and green boughs. --Macaulay.
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4. Sprightly; lively; brisk. --Richardson.
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5. Having susceptibility; easily impressed; having lively
feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive.
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Tremblingly alive to nature's laws. --Falconer.
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6. Of all living (by way of emphasis).
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Northumberland was the proudest man alive.
--Clarendon.
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Note: Used colloquially as an intensive; as, man alive!
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Note: Alive always follows the noun which it qualifies.
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