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
Brian splits the difference between a more nuanced coming-of-age story a la Sean Wang’s Dídi and a straight comedy in the vein of Superbad. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026 Silence and Darkness Induces a Meditative State Sensory deprivation, the intentional removal of external stimuli like sounds or visuals (a la sitting in a coffin), can reduce brain stimulation and cause a state of deep relaxation. Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026 Until its a la carte menu is completed, however, the dining room for now is buffet-only. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026 The ground-floor space will serve both hot and cold tasting menus, along with a la carte items that incorporate seasonal North Carolina ingredients. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026 Plus, the Rockies could use options — and even the injured list — to shuttle multiple relievers between Triple-A and the big-league team, a la the Dodgers. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026 Ganándose a la afición desde el minuto 1. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026 There’s also a new three-course Sunday Supper menu in addition to the a la carte menu. Laura Ness, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026 In the past year alone, listeners consumed nearly 6 billion hours of content on the service, while total listening time and a la carte purchasing grew by double digits. Jordaan Ashley, Variety, 3 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Ala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ala. Accessed 17 Mar. 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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