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What is the difference between beta and alpha?

beta | alpha |

In finance terms the difference between beta and alpha

is that beta is average sensitivity of a security's price to overall securities market prices while alpha is the return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.

As adjectives the difference between beta and alpha

is that beta is identifying a molecular position in an organic chemical compound while alpha is designates the first in an order of precedence.

As nouns the difference between beta and alpha

is that beta is the name of the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β,  β), preceded by alpha (Α,  α) and followed by gamma, (Γ,  γ). In modern Greek it represents the voiced labiodental fricative sound of v found in the English words have and vase while alpha is the name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α,  α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.

As a verb beta

is to preliminarily release computer software for initial testing prior to final release.

As a proper noun Beta

is betamax.

beta

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Identifying a molecular position in an organic chemical compound.
  • Designates the second in an order of precedence.
  • (computing) Preliminary; prerelease. Refers to an incomplete version of a product released for initial testing.
  • associated with the beta male/female archetype.
  • Derived terms

    * * * alphabet * * beta blocker * beta coefficient * beta decay * beta emitter * betalike * beta particle * beta ray * beta reader * beta version * Betamax * betatron

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The name of the second letter of the Greek alphabet ( sound of '''v found in the English words ''have'' and ''vase .
  • Used in marking scheme: ?, ?, ? or ?+, ?, ?-, ? etc.
  • (finance) Average sensitivity of a security's price to overall securities market prices.
  • (computing) The phase of development after alpha testing and before launch, in which software, while not complete, has been released to potential users for testing.
  • (computing) A computer program in such a phase; a preliminary version.
  • * 2007 , Michael Lopp, Managing Humans (page 107)
  • He quickly deduced our goal—ship a quality beta —but he also quickly discerned that we had no idea about the quality of the product because of our pile of untriaged bugs.
  • (climbing) Information about a route which may aid someone in climbing it.
  • (physics) A beta particle or beta ray.
  • A beta fish, of the genus Betta .
  • A beta male.
  • * 2006 , Catherine Mann, Blaze of Glory , Harlequin (2006), ISBN 9781459228252, unnumbered page:
  • “I guess in your psychological language of alpha males and beta males, I would be firmly in the camp that prefers the more laid-back betas ,” she took a deep breath, “like your father.”
  • * 2010 , L. A. Banks, "Dog Tired (of the Drama!)", in Blood Lite II: Overbite (ed. Kevin J. Anderson), Gallery Books (2010), ISBN 9781439187654, page 121:
  • “They want sexy, virile alpha males, yes? But that doesn't come with sensitive and loyal and all of that. That's a beta . A frickin' collie, Lola.
  • * 2010 , Terry Spear, Wolf Fever , Sourcebooks Casablanca (2010), ISBN 9781402237577, page 24:
  • She'd always had a thing for alpha males. Not that she had any intention of being bossed around, even if one had her best interests at heart. Her fascination with alphas was that they were a challenge. Betas didn't hold much of an appeal.

    Derived terms

    * betavoltaic * betavoltaics

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (computing) To preliminarily release computer software for initial testing prior to final release.
  • (chiefly, Internet) To beta-read a text.
  • * 1999, sqira a., in alt.tv.x-files.creative [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.x-files.creative/msg/29d32d27e61755f2?dmode=source]
  • My thanks to Heather; who read it and betaed it. Thank you.
  • * 2000 , Elizabeth Durack, quoted in Angelina I. Karpovich, “The Audience as Editor: The Role of Beta Readers in Online Fan Fiction Communities” (essay), in Karen Hellekson and Kristina Busse (editors), Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet , McFarland (2006), ISBN 9780786426409, page 180,
  • Beta’ing is time-consuming, so asking a lot of people to give you a detailed analysis isn’t the most polite thing to do.
  • * 2002, Jane Davitt, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative/msg/9301606b391212c0?dmode=source]
  • The next part is written and beta'd (thanks, Jen!), ready to go but <shuffles feet> I haven't even started what should be the final part yet.
  • * 2002, Karmen Ghia, in alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated/msg/8405f53e8acbb0c1?dmode=source]
  • I had the honor of betaing this story and as I was doing the first read through I had the odd, but lovely, experience when a story suspends the reader in its own rhythm and flow, its own reality.

    Anagrams

    * * * ----

    alpha

    English

    Noun

  • The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet ('''), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to ' A .
  • Latin alpha
  • (science) The name of the symbols ?' and ' ? used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.
  • :: I will attempt to make an alpha particle ("?-particle") with the large hadron collider.
  • (finance) The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
  • An alpha male.
  • * 2008 , Faye Flam, The Score: How the Quest for Sex Has Shaped the Modern Man , Avery (2008), ISBN 9781436225786, unnumbered page:
  • Being a beta male in a species with alphas doesn't mean you have to sit out the mating game.
  • * 2008 , The New Black Lace Book of Women's Sexual Fantasies (ed. Mitzi Szereto), Black Lace (2008), ISBN 9780352341723, page 38:
  • I'm still turned on by alpha males. I think there are only a couple of other men that turn me on . . . ones that are clearly not alphas .
  • * 2009 , Martin G. Groder & Pat Webster, Winning at Love: The Alpha Male's Guide to Relationship Success , Bascom Hill Books (2009), ISBN 9781935456049, page ix:
  • This book is primarily for alpha males, or “top dogs.” We'll talk more about that later; but let's just say that if you are a man and successful in the world of trade, business, or profession, most likely you are an alpha', or you have been trained to ''act like'' an ' alpha .
  • (informal, abbreviation) Alphabet.
  • (computer graphics) The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.
  • Derived terms

    * alpha and omega * alpha blending * alpha channel * alpha emitter * alpha helix * alphalike * alpha male * alpha particle * alpha ray * alpha wave * alpha ray * alpha testing * alpha version

    See also

    *

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Designates the first in an order of precedence.
  • I am the alpha male.
  • associated with the alpha male/female archetype.
  • (star) Designates the brightest star in a constellation.
  • When space travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.

    Derived terms

    * alpha blogger * Alpha Centauri, * alpha female * alpha geek