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la

1 American  
[lah] / lɑ /

noun

Music.

  1. the syllable used for the sixth tone of a diatonic scale.

  2. (in the fixed system of solmization) the tone A.

la 2 American  
[law, lah] / lɔ, lɑ /

interjection

Archaic or Dialect.

  1. (used as an exclamation of wonder, surprise, etc.).

    La, sir, how you do go on!
La 3 American  
Symbol, Chemistry.

  1. lanthanum.

LA 4 American  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana (approved especially for use with zip code).

La. 5 American  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana.

L.A. 6 American  

abbreviation

  1. Latin America.

  2. Law Agent.

  3. Library Association.

  4. Local Agent.

  5. Los Angeles.

LA 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. Legislative Assembly

  2. Library Association

  3. local agent

  4. Los Angeles

  5. Louisiana

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
La 2 British  

symbol

  1. lanthanum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
La. 3 British  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
la 4 British  
/ lɑː /

noun

  1. music a variant spelling of lah

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
la 5 British  
/ lɔː /

interjection

  1. an exclamation of surprise or emphasis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
la 6 British  

abbreviation

  1. Lao People's Democratic Republic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of la1

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at gamut

Origin of la2

before 1150; Middle English, Old English; weak variant of lā lo 1

Vocabulary lists containing la

Scrabble: Two-Letter Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He is trailed by right-wing candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, both of whom have pledged to take a hard line against rebel groups.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

Las entradas para los Juegos Paralímpicos de 2028, que serán los primeros en la historia de Los Ángeles, saldrán a la venta en 2027.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Cuatro deportes olímpicos —flag football, lacrosse, sóftbol y squash— vendieron todo su stock disponible en la primera tanda.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

El nuevo periodo de inscripción solo es necesario para quienes no se inscribieron en la primera tanda.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Con el agua al cuello y la marea subiendo.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.