an

1. 1
   one of manyarticle

   The word a, used before a word that starts with a vowel sound, like an apple or an hour.

   She ate an orange on the way to school.

   An owl can see well in the dark.

   UsageGo by the first sound, not the letter: an hour, an honest answer, but a university.

   Note
2. 2
   for eachpreposition

   In each or for each, used when giving a rate like speed or price.

   She drove fifty miles an hour on the highway.

   He gets paid twenty dollars an hour at the store.

   UsageUse an hour, but a day: sixty miles an hour, twenty dollars a day.

   Similarper

   Note
3. 3
   before h wordsarticle

   Used instead of a before some words that begin with an h sound.

   Winning the cup was an historic moment for the small town.

   Critics praised it as an historical drama of real depth.

   UsageMost people now say a historic day.

   Note

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