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

Examples of ala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Preposition
Its $55 four-course dinner features braised short rib with polenta and spicy a la vodka rigatoni as entrees and a passionfruit beignet and Nutella cake as desserts. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026 The film is inspired by the autobiographical chronicle Disparen a la bandada by Fernando Villagrán, who is one of the two students whose lives Silva saves in the story. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026 Here, there is also a sushi bar, a patisserie worthy of a Parisian sojourn, a cafe, and a buffet (and a la carte) with a revolving variety of regional and international options. Rachel Morris, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026 Holiday Inn, owned by IHG, eliminated a la carte breakfast items in favor of a buffet-only model — a cost-cutting measure that preserves the breakfast buffet offering while reducing labor and food waste. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026 Birch was chosen for its inventive approach to farm-to-table dining, sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers while serving artful dishes from its a la carte and chef’s tasting menus. Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 11 Feb. 2026 The menu also includes the option of local fish of the day prepared a la meunière, with lemons, capers and potatoes. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 Customers partaking in the omakase experience were seated beside others who were spending much less on a la carte items, and the conversation flowed as easily as Cho’s cocktails. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Other specialities include a BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Pizza a la Vodka, with that signature orange-red sauce. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ala was in 1634

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ala. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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

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