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

McCormick appeared in more supermarket spice aisles by 1926, as the company began offering its stock to wholesale grocers.

From The Wall Street Journal

I made friends, held hands in a circle, mumbled along to “Kumbaya,” and now here I am in the cramped aisle of a commercial jet, traveling by myself like a fancy, mature young woman.

From Literature

We get a glimpse of Cassie walking down the aisle and Levinson has previous said the pair's wedding will be "unforgettable" for viewers.

From BBC

Whatever excitement remains is being scooped up by upstarts that look fresher and healthier than the legacy brands gathering dust in the middle of the aisle.

From The Wall Street Journal

Interest in regulating the booming asset class has spread across the aisle in Congress amid concerns over prediction-market insider trading and sports markets that sidestep state gambling regulations.

From Barron's

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path