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 origin
C18: from Latin āla a wing
Ala. in British English
abbreviation for
Alabama
Alabama in British English
(ˌæləˈbæmə)
noun
1.
a state of the southeastern US, on the Gulf of Mexico: consists of coastal and W lowlands crossed by the Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and Alabama Rivers, with parts of the Tennessee Valley and Cumberland Plateau in the north; noted for producing cotton and white marble. Capital: Montgomery. Pop: 4 500 752 (2003 est). Area: 131 333 sq km (50 708 sq miles)
Abbreviation: Ala or (with zip code) AL
2.
a river in Alabama, flowing southwest to the Mobile and Tensaw Rivers. Length: 507 km (315 miles)
ALA in American English
American Library Association
Ala in American English
Alabama
ala in American English
(ˈeɪlə)
nounWord forms: pluralˈaˌlae (ˈeɪˌli)
1. Zoology
a wing
2.
a winglike structure, as a lobe of the ear or a side petal of a butterfly-shaped corolla