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la

1 American  
[lah] / lɑ /

noun

Music.

  1. the syllable used for the sixth tone of a diatonic scale.

  2. (in the fixed system of solmization) the tone A.

la 2 American  
[law, lah] / lɔ, lɑ /

interjection

Archaic or Dialect.

  1. (used as an exclamation of wonder, surprise, etc.).

    La, sir, how you do go on!
La 3 American  
Symbol, Chemistry.

  1. lanthanum.

LA 4 American  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana (approved especially for use with zip code).

La. 5 American  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana.

L.A. 6 American  

abbreviation

  1. Latin America.

  2. Law Agent.

  3. Library Association.

  4. Local Agent.

  5. Los Angeles.

LA 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. Legislative Assembly

  2. Library Association

  3. local agent

  4. Los Angeles

  5. Louisiana

"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
La 2 British  

symbol

  1. lanthanum

"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
La. 3 British  

abbreviation

  1. Louisiana

"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
la 4 British  
/ lɑː /

noun

  1. music a variant spelling of lah

"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
la 5 British  
/ lɔː /

interjection

  1. an exclamation of surprise or emphasis

"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
la 6 British  

abbreviation

  1. Lao People's Democratic Republic

"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

Etymology

Origin of la1

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; gamut

Origin of la2

before 1150; Middle English, Old English; weak variant of lā lo 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There were years, in the 1980s, when la migra was a familiar sight, chasing and tackling workers who had no criminal record but were in the country illegally.

From Los Angeles Times

A pastor, a Navy veteran, an immigration lawyer and cameraman got out of the Liberty Van — camioneta de la libertad in Spanish — and greeted the day laborers while offering them water and snacks.

From Los Angeles Times

All of this is generating fear of fraud and violence, à la Venezuela in July 2024 when Mr. Maduro stole the presidential election.

From The Wall Street Journal

Talk about someone who would get deported if la migra saw Her on the street.

From Los Angeles Times

England are not the only side on the verge of joining this exclusive list - Spain and Norway have likewise won all their 2026 qualifiers, with Luis de la Fuente's team yet to concede a goal.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.