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

Can he envision playing 17 seasons, ala Stafford?

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 25, 2025

Last month I also decided to practice manifestation ala influencer Amanda Francis, and as I delivered four large dishes to a client, I said to myself, “Money is flowing toward me in abundance.”

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024

But for now, it appears that the two companies are on track toward further integration, ala Google and Nest.

From The Verge • Aug. 19, 2022

Nicknames get coined for losses like these, ala the “Monday Night Massacre” of 2010.

From Washington Times • Dec. 26, 2021

“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