Words that start with A

An alarm is a device or a signal that warns people of something happening that they need to pay attention to, such as a fire, a burglary or just that they need to wake up!

Albatrosses are large sea birds. The great albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird. Albatrosses can glide for very long distances. They eat squid and fish that they dive into the water to catch.

Ale is a similar drink to beer but is darker, heavier and more bitter. In some countries, ale is simply another word for beer.

Algae are a large group of very primitive plants. Algae usually grow in the water, and the algae most people are familiar with is the green slime that grows on the inside of fish tanks.
Algae can range in size from that familiar green slime right through to what is commonly called seaweed. Most algae grows in the water, but it can also be found on land too.
Some algae grow with other organisms. Lichen is algae and fungi growing together. Some corals and sea sponges have algae growing inside them to provide them with oxygen and sugars.

Alight can have many different meanings.
It might mean something that is on fire. It might also mean you are getting off something after it has stopped moving, like a horse or a train. It could also mean you are coming onto something after a flight, as in "see the bird alight on that branch".

Something is alive if it is able to grow and reproduce.
When something that was alive stops being alive, it is dead.

An alligator is a very large reptile, found in China and America. They are related to crocodiles but are generally darker in colour and have a broader snout. Alligators live in fresh water.

The almond is the seed inside the fruit of the almond tree. Almond trees grow up to 10 metres tall. They are related to plums, cherries and apricots. Most people think of almonds as a nut, not the seed of a fruit.
Almonds can be eaten raw or roasted and salted, or used in cooking cakes and puddings.

Someone is alone if they are all by themselves, with no-one else around them. Sometimes alone is just a feeling - you may have people or things around you but you feel alone, and this can make you very sad.

The alpaca is a kind of domestic animal bred for its wool, the same reason people keep sheep. Alpacas are related to llamas and camels but are a lot smaller than both. Alpacas come in lots of different colours, such as black, white and lots of different shades of brown.