alley

noun (1)

al·ley | \ ˈa-lē

plural alleys

Definition of alley

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes

2a(1) : a grassed enclosure for bowling or skittles

(2) : a hardwood lane for bowling also : a room or building housing a group of such lanes

b : the space on each side of a tennis doubles court between the sideline and the service sideline

c : an area in a baseball outfield between two outfielders when they are in normal positions hit a line drive into the alley

3 : a narrow street especially : a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings

4 : an extensive region where destructive natural phenomena of a specified type (such as tornadoes) occur often or are likely to occur The most obvious tornado alley extends from the plains of northwest Texas eastward into north Texas and then northward across Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastern Nebraska.— Tom Konvicka

up one's alley or less commonly down one's alley

: suited to one's own tastes or abilities a job that's right up her alley