a·live / əˈlīv/ • adj. 1. (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead: he was kept alive by a feeding-tube. ∎  (of a feeling or quality) continuing in existence: keeping hope alive. ∎  continuing to be supported or in use: militarism was kept alive by superstition.2. (of a person or animal) alert and active; animated: Ken comes alive when he hears his music played. ∎ fig. having interest and meaning: we make history come alive for the children.3. (alive to) aware of and interested in; responsive to: always alive to new ideas.4. (alive with) swarming or teeming with: in spring those cliffs are alive with auks and gulls.PHRASES: alive and kicking inf. prevalent and very active: bigotry is still alive and kicking.alive and well still existing or active (often used to deny rumors or beliefs that something has disappeared or declined): Jefferson's ideas are alive and well today in Washington.DERIVATIVES: a·live·ness n.

Alive ★★½ 1993 (R)

Recounts the true-life survival story of a group of Uruguayan rugby players in 1972. After their plane crashes in the remote, snowy Andes (in a spectacular sequence) they're forced to turn to cannibalism during a 10-week struggle to stay alive. Marshall doesn't focus on the gruesome idea, choosing instead to focus on all aspects of their desperate quest for survival. The special effects are stunning, but other parts of the film are never fully realized, including the final scene. Based on the nonfiction book by Piers Paul Read. 127m/C VHS, DVD. Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton, Bruce Ramsay, John Haymes Newton, David Kriegel, Kevin Breznahan, Sam Behrens, Illeana Douglas, Jack Noseworthy, Christian Meoli, Jake Carpenter; D: Frank Marshall; W: John Patrick Shanley; C: Peter James; M: James Newton Howard; Nar: John Malkovich.

alive OE. on līfe, ME. o(n) live, alive, i.e. ON, A-1, and dat. of LIFE.