alphabetic
/ˌælfəˈbetɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌælfəbˈɛtɪk] /ˌælfəˈbetɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌælfəbˈɛtɪk] /ˌal-fə-ˈbe-tik How to pronounce alphabetic (audio)/ (ame, mw)
alphabetic — adjective
- alphabeticpositive
- more alphabeticcomparative
- most alphabeticsuperlative
1. using letters, alone or in combinations, to show the sounds of spoken language.
using letters, alone or in combinations, to show the sounds of spoken language.
Spanish uses an alphabetic writing system, so most sounds match letters closely.
alphabetic + writing system
The workbook explains how an alphabetic script turns speech into written signs.
alphabetic + script
In class, Feng compared an alphabetic language with one that uses characters.
The museum display showed how an alphabetic code helped children read aloud.
- letter-based
a plain descriptive phrase with almost the same meaning, but less formal than alphabetic
- phonetic
partly overlaps when letters show sounds, but phonetic more often focuses on pronunciation itself
- logographic
using written symbols that stand for words or ideas rather than letters for sounds
- syllabic
using symbols that represent syllables instead of separate letters
文法句型
alphabetic + writing system
alphabetic + language
alphabetic + script
用法筆記
Usually modifies system, script, language, or code. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes how writing represents speech sounds, not how a list is arranged.
常見錯誤
2. put into a sequence that follows the letters from A to Z.
put into a sequence that follows the letters from A to Z.
The librarian filed the recipe cards in alphabetic order by family name.
in alphabetic order
Our teacher asked for an alphabetic list of everyone in the science club.
alphabetic + list
At the front desk, the folders stay in alphabetic order for quick check-in.
Eitan checked the index twice to make sure each topic followed alphabetic order.
- alphabetical
the usual everyday adjective for arrangement by letters
- A-to-Z
informal and especially common for lists, menus, or indexes
- numeric
arranged by numbers instead of letters
- chronological
arranged by time instead of letter order
文法句型
in alphabetic order
alphabetic + list
alphabetic + arrangement
用法筆記
Most often appears in phrases like in alphabetic order or alphabetic list. Alphabetical is much more common in everyday English, but alphabetic can be used in the same ordering sense in formal or technical writing.