aisle

[ ahyl ]

noun

1. a walkway between or along blocks or rows of seats in a theater, classroom, airplane, etc.:

   We were glad to get seats next to the aisle for that flight.

2. Architecture.
   1. a longitudinal division of an interior area, such as in a church, separated from the main area by an arcade or the like.
   2. any of the longitudinal divisions of a church or similarly shaped building.
3. the aisle, the divide or division between two political factions or parties:

   The Democrat reached across the aisle to form a bipartisan coalition.

   Her proposal was criticized by folks on both sides of the aisle.

aisle

/ aɪl /

noun

1. a passageway separating seating areas in a theatre, church, etc; gangway
2. a lateral division in a church flanking the nave or chancel
3. rolling in the aisles informal.
   rolling in the aisles (of an audience) overcome with laughter

Derived Forms

• aisled, adjective
• ˈaisleless, adjective

Other Words From

• aisled adjective
• un·aisled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aisle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, and in 1880–85 aisle fordef 3; alteration (with ai from French aile “wing”) of earlier ile, isle (with s from isle ), from Middle French, from Latin āla “wing,” cognate with axle; ala; sense of aisle def 3 derives from the central aisle dividing Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and in other legislative chambers

Word History and Origins

Origin of aisle¹

C14 ele (later aile, aisle, through confusion with isle (island)), via Old French from Latin āla wing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. walk / go down the aisle, to get married:

   Fewer couples are walking down the aisle these days.

2. in the aisles. rolling ( def 10 ).

Example Sentences

Whole Foods, for example, has a section of its cracker aisle devoted to organic puffed rice and popcorn snacks for the gluten-averse or -intolerant.

From Eater

TJ’s is your one-stop shop for car camping, says Jump, because not only are the aisles packed with great snacks, but there are tons of heat-and-eat meal options, too.

From Outside Online

CEOs need not call out individuals or political parties or take potshots at leaders on either side of the aisle.

From Fortune

You might recognize these mirrors as the ones that are sometimes mounted above shopping aisles or placed outside driveways to keep drivers from backing into things.

From ProPublica

It is an aisle seat, close to the exit, which means that you can be quick about leaving when the opera ends.

From MIT Technology Review

The NRA supports the open carry of guns in cafes, burrito shops, and the produce aisle.

From The Daily Beast

The mistletoe must have been hanging right across the aisle on Capital Hill.

From The Daily Beast

"Right now beer is a trend," Bernardo Rivas, the owner of Bodega Mi Amiga tells me in the imported beer aisle.

From The Daily Beast

But from the outside, from my side of the aisle, the situation seems very clear.

From The Daily Beast

When these single-aisle models were introduced, the maximum seating averaged around 160 seats.

From The Daily Beast

I put down my haid, and was just kinda dragged up the aisle and onto the platform.

From Project Gutenberg

The priest of Nicaragua with solemn mien strides up the aisle and lights the altar candles with the fire struck from his cigar.

From Project Gutenberg

It consists of a nave of four bays, a south aisle, chancel, and massive western embattled tower.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilson eased down the aisle, casually pushing a woman out of his way, and glanced over his victim's shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

When Bessie came down the aisle, she saw this boy looking at her with an amused expression, and gave him close attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path