ala

1 of 4

noun

ˈā-lə 

plural alae ˈā-ˌlē 

: a wing or a winglike anatomic part or process (see process entry 1 sense 4)

alar

ˈā-lər 

adjective

alary

ˈā-lə-rē 

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 

ˌä-lə, 

ˌa-lə

variants or less commonly a la

: in the manner of

speaking with a passion à la Martin Luther King, Jr.

Examples of ala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

One award-winning work used chalk powder mixed in water sprayed a la Jackson Pollock. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

The fact that the final was settled with Baggio missing a shootout penalty, a la Diana Ross during the opening ceremony weeks earlier, was a sad way for the tournament to end. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026

An a la carte, eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music in your ears that is as thoughtfully curated as the food on your plate. — Staff Author, Southern Living, 22 July 2026

Estaba agradecida de estar viva, pero aún más agradecida de darme cuenta de que Dios, el Espíritu, estaba presente y hablando directamente a la conciencia. — Suzanne Riedel, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026

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

Rhymes for ala

• chela
• sequela

Medical Definition

ala

1 of 3 noun

ˈā-lə 

plural alae -ˌlē 

: a wing or a winglike anatomic process or part

especially : ala nasi

Ala

2 of 3 abbreviation

alanine; alanyl

ALA

3 of 3 abbreviation

1

alpha-linolenic acid

2

aminolevulinic acid