gala

[ gey-luh, gal-uh; especially British gah-luh ]
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adjective
  1. festive; festal; showy: Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

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

  2. festal pomp or dress.

Origin of gala

1
1615–25; <French <Italian <Old French; see gallant

Words Nearby gala

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How to use gala in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gala

gala

/ (ˈɡɑːlə, ˈɡeɪlə) /


noun
    • a celebration; festive occasion

    • (as modifier): a gala occasion

  1. mainly British a sporting occasion involving competitions in several events: a swimming gala

Origin of gala

1
C17: from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, from Old French galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin; compare gallant

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