aisle

American  

[ahyl] / aɪl /

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.

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idioms

1. in the aisles. rolling.

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

   Fewer couples are walking down the aisle these days.

aisle British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• aisled adjective
• aisleless adjective
• unaisled adjective

Etymology

Origin of aisle

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

Example Sentences

The House voted 219-211 to end tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans crossing the aisle.

From The Wall Street Journal

Grocers continue to prominently mark certain products in aisles as made-in-Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stewart said they met again by chance at a game fair in the summer of 1995, when they passed each other in an aisle.

From BBC

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already proposed bills that would either extend the ban’s effective date or establish a federal framework for hemp-derived THC products.

From The Wall Street Journal

Back in 2023, that prestige was bestowed upon tomatoes, which moved beyond the grocery store aisles to become an aesthetic and a way of life with the so-called “Tomato Girl Summer” micro trend.

From Salon

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path