ala

¹ American  

[ey-luh] / ˈeɪ lə /

noun

plural

alae

1. a wing.

2. a winglike part, process, or expansion, as of a bone, shell, seed, or stem.

3. either of the two side petals of a flower in the legume family, as the pea.

4. (in an ancient Roman house) a small room, as an alcove, opening into a larger room or courtyard.

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Ala ² American  

[ah-lah] / ˈɑ lɑ /

noun

1. Hussein 1888–1964, Iranian statesman and diplomat: premier in 1951 and from 1955 to 1957.

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Ala ³ American  

abbreviation

Biochemistry.

1. alanine.

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Ala. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Alabama.

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A.L.A. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. American Library Association.

2. Associate in Liberal Arts.

3. Authors League of America.

4. Automobile Legal Association.

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ala ¹ British  

/ ˈeɪlə /

noun

1. zoology a wing or flat winglike process or structure, such as a part of some bones and cartilages

2. botany a winglike part, such as one of the wings of a sycamore seed or one of the flat petals of a sweet pea flower

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Ala. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Alabama

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Etymology

Origin of ala

1730–40; < Latin āla wing, armpit, shoulder, representing *aks-lā, derivative of same base as axis axle ( axis ¹ ); axle

Example Sentences

During his rookie season, Rams edge rusher Jared Verse established himself as one of the NFL’s most boisterous players — and also a force to be reckoned with ala former Rams star Aaron Donald.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2025

But if you’ve got room in the basket, go ahead and lay some onions, carrots or celery under the bird or even stuff the cavity with some halved lemons, grapes, garlic and herbs, ala Colwin.

From Salon • May 9, 2025

Once everyone in the secondary is heathy, Bryant could end up being something of jack-of-all-trades reserve, ala Ryan Neal.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 2, 2023

At the end of the event, he was asked to press his hands into a tray of butter — ala The Hollywood Walk of Fame — as part of new ad campaign “Butter Call Saul.”

From Washington Times • Feb. 2, 2023

“La ureed an akhsar kulla wakti min ajl watheefa. Yajib an ashtaghil ala mas’alat al-riyadiat.”

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green