gala

[ gey-luh, gal-uh; especially British gah-luh ]

/ ˈgeɪ lə, ˈgæl ə; especially British ˈgɑ lə /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gala ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

festive; festal; showy: Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

noun

a festive occasion; celebration; special entertainment: a gala featuring opera stars in their most famous scenes.

festal pomp or dress.

Nearby words

gak, gal, gal friday, gal pal, gal., gala, galabia, galact-, galactacrasia, galactagogue, galactan

Origin of gala

1615–25; < French < Italian < Old French; see gallant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gala

And with the variety we have at the gala — Thom Browne, Sarah Burton, Carolina Herrera — those are three very different worlds.
How High Fashion Saved the Ballet|Raquel Laneri|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only YouTube videos of her are paparazzi-style entrances and exits at gala events and business meetings.
Could Silvio Berlusconi’s Daughter Take Over Italy, Too?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wylie and I speak at the Figure Skating in Harlem gala on April 7, an annual event that raises money for the nonprofit.
Figure Skater Michelle Kwan Chases Gold in Rhode Island’s Gubernatorial Race|Nicholas McCarvel|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the biggest names in corporate America were celebrated at the gala event, including AT&T, Viacom, Nike, and Boeing.
The Arbitrary Way Companies Are Labeled 'Anti-Gay'|Emily Shire|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Dinner at the American Jewish Congress gala at Cipriani in midtown Manhattan was a thick slice of brisket covered in gravy.
Hillary Woos the Jews|David Freedlander|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ourdays always wound up with an extra good dinner, and a touch of gala costume in honor of the occasion.
Marjorie's Busy Days|Carolyn Wells
Last evening there was a gala performance at the Grand Opéra for the blasé Shah.
The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912|Lillie DeHegermann-Lindencrone
After dinner the men and women appear in their gala dress, and range themselves in two opposite rows.
The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. II (of 2)|W. Crooke
The "triumph" to which he referred consisted of a procession with allegorical floats and every description of gala costume.
Romance of Roman Villas|Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney
Never had the city seen such a gala time; the Victory of Peace it was called.
A Little Girl of Long Ago|Amanda Millie Douglas

British Dictionary definitions for gala

gala

/ (ˈɡɑːlə, ˈɡeɪlə) /

noun

a celebration; festive occasion
(as modifier)a gala occasion

mainly British a sporting occasion involving competitions in several eventsa swimming gala

Word Origin for gala

C17: from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, from Old French galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin; compare gallant

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

Word Origin and History for gala

gala

1620s, "festive dress or attire," from French en gala, perhaps from Old French gale "merriment," from galer "rejoice, make merry" (see gallant). Klein suggests the French word is from Italian gala (as in phrase vestito di gala "robe of state"), perhaps from Arabic khil'a "fine garment given as a presentation." Sense of "festive occasion" (characterized by display of finery) first recorded 1777.

gala

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of gala

Examples from the Web for gala

British Dictionary definitions for gala

gala

noun

Word Origin for gala

Word Origin and History for gala

gala