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. informal,  (of an audience) overcome with laughter

Other Word Forms

• aisled adjective
• unaisled adjective
• aisleless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aisle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, and in 1880–85 aisle for def. 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. in the aisles. rolling.

2. walk / go down the aisle, to get married.

   Fewer couples are walking down the aisle these days.

Example Sentences

I’m sure you can think of plenty of examples of hypocrisy on both sides of the political aisle.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It’s not unusual to see them roaming the aisles of a record store or doing sidewalk photo shoots with digital cameras, as if they had traveled back to the early 2000s.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A modern-day gold rush is stretching from Costco store aisles to underground vaults in London to the flickering screens of Wall Street.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Social media is filled with expletive-laden diatribes from the coffee aisle.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

During her first trip to a supermarket, she was unable to tear herself away from the bread aisle - and the sights and smells of so much plenty.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• avenue 
• corridor 
• hallway 
• lane 
• path