5/12/2020 Longman Dictionary of American English

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Search... Go a /ə; strong eɪ/ ●●● also an indefinite article

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1 used before a noun to show that you are talking about a general type of thing, not a
specific thing → the:
Do you have a car?
A, a
I’ll find you a pencil.
A noun
a indefinite article
2
AA noun
a) one:
AB noun
a thousand dollars
aback adverb
a dozen eggs
abacus noun
b) used before some words that show how much of something there is:
abandon verb
a few weeks from now
abandoned adjective
abandonment noun
a little water
abase verb a lot of people
abasement noun
3 used before a noun that is one of many similar things, people, events, times, etc.:
abashed adjective
I’d like to be a teacher.
abate verb
This is a very good wine.
abbey noun
abbreviate verb 4 every or each:
abbreviation noun
A square has 4 sides.
ABC noun
abdicate verb 5 once a week/$100 a day etc. one time each week, $100 a day, etc. SYN per

6 used before two nouns that are frequently mentioned together:

Other words and phrases
a cup and saucer
a knife and fork

7
a) used before the -ing form of some verbs when they are used as nouns:
She heard a loud screeching of brakes.
b) used before some singular nouns that are actions:
Take a look at that!

GRAMMAR: a, an
If the next word starts with a consonant sound, use a:
a cat
a white egg
a house
a CD
If the next word starts with a vowel sound (the sounds shown by the letters a, e, i, o,
or u), use an:
an apple
an old car
If the next word begins with h, but the h is not pronounced, use an:
an hour
an honest man
If the next word begins with u which is pronounced like “you,” use a:
a union
a unique opportunity
→ ANY1

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