ala

1 of 4

noun

plural alae ˈā-ˌlē How to pronounce ala (audio)
: a wing or a winglike anatomic part or process (see process entry 1 sense 4)
alar adjective
alary adjective

Ala

2 of 4

abbreviation (1)

Alabama

ALA

3 of 4

abbreviation (2)

American Library Association

à la

4 of 4

preposition

ˌä-(ˌ)lä How to pronounce à la (audio)
ˌä-lə,
ˌa-lə
variants or less commonly a la
: in the manner of
walking with a swagger à la John Wayne

Examples of ala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
Viewers who like their horror films with a dose of social commentary a la Jordan Peele’s Get Out will be hooked on this twisty young adult story. Jordan Kopy, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Now with new tasting and a la carte menus, plus fresh talents on board — including pastry whizz Pichet Ong and Tiki on 18th barman Jo-Jo Valenzuela — Dungca is ready to launch. Anna Spiegel, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 For an extra-fun and stylish flair, opt for one with bonus features like ruffles a la the Summersalt pick. Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2024 Product specs Best Oversized: Alo Accolade Crewneck Pullover Alo Alo Accolade Crewneck Pullover $118 Alo Pros Roomy fit Great weight Cons Limited color selection Paired with biker shorts, Alo’s Accolade Crewneck is serving sporty casual vibes, a la Princess Diana. Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 30 Sep. 2024 Daily breakfast is complimentary with every stay and includes an a la carte menu and a buffet of French pastries, fresh juices, and parfaits. Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2024 Shoppers at California grocery stores, liquor stores and big box stores with pharmacies (a la Target and Walmart) will no longer have the choice of paper or plastic bags at checkout. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2024 That means no bulky headset (a la Quest), no wires (a la Apple Vision Pro), and a weight of less than 100 grams (compared to a full 515 g for the Meta Quest 3). Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 25 Sep. 2024 Ireland announced last year the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, a la Norway, which was expected to grow to more than €100 billion by the mid-2030s. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 11 Sep. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ala.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin āla "armpit, upper arm, wing, axil" going back to *akslā, going back to Indo-European *h2eḱs-(i)l-eh2- (whence also Germanic *ahslō-, whence Old English eaxl "shoulder," Old Frisian axle, axele "shoulder, armpit," Old Saxon ahsla, Old High German ahsla, ahsala, Old Icelandic ǫxl "shoulder"), derivative with an -l- suffix from *h2eḱs- "pivot around which something rotates, axle" — more at axis

Preposition

French à la

First Known Use

Noun

1634, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

circa 1642, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ala was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near ala

Cite this Entry

“Ala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ala. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

ala

1 of 3 noun
plural alae -ˌlē How to pronounce ala (audio)
: a wing or a winglike anatomic process or part
especially : ala nasi

Ala

2 of 3 abbreviation
alanine; alanyl

ALA

3 of 3 abbreviation

More from Merriam-Webster on ala

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!