ala

¹

[ ey-luh ]

noun

, plural a·lae [ey, -lee].

1. a wing.
2. a winglike part, process, or expansion, as of a bone, shell, seed, or stem.
3. either of the two side petals of a flower in the legume family, as the pea.
4. (in an ancient Roman house) a small room, as an alcove, opening into a larger room or courtyard.

Ala

²

[ ah-lah ]

noun

1. Hus·sein [h, oo, -, seyn], 1888–1964, Iranian statesman and diplomat: premier in 1951 and from 1955 to 1957.

Ala

³

abbreviation for

, Biochemistry.

1. alanine.

Ala.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Alabama.

A.L.A.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. American Library Association.
2. Associate in Liberal Arts.
3. Authors League of America.
4. Automobile Legal Association.

Ala.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Alabama

ala

²

/ ˈeɪlə /

noun

1. zoology a wing or flat winglike process or structure, such as a part of some bones and cartilages
2. botany a winglike part, such as one of the wings of a sycamore seed or one of the flat petals of a sweet pea flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of ala¹

1730–40; < Latin āla wing, armpit, shoulder, representing *aks-lā, derivative of same base as axis axle ( axis ¹ ); axle

Word History and Origins

Origin of ala¹

C18: from Latin āla a wing

Example Sentences

The wildlife refuge is a wetland that provides nesting, feeding and resting habitat to the endangered Hawaiian stilt, known as aeo, and the Hawaiian coot or alae keokeo.

From Seattle Times

At the end of the event, he was asked to press his hands into a tray of butter — ala The Hollywood Walk of Fame — as part of new ad campaign “Butter Call Saul.”

From Washington Times

The trailers shows students fighting zombies and what looks like a choice system ala Telltale’s The Walking Dead series.

From The Verge

But for now, it appears that the two companies are on track toward further integration, ala Google and Nest.

From The Verge

“The Trump rules violated the letter and spirit” of the Endangered Species Act “by stripping vital protections necessary to address the extinction crisis,” attorney Leinā`ala Ley said.

From Seattle Times