alley

[ al-ee ]

/ ˈæl i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR alley ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural al·leys.

a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.

a narrow back street.

a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.

Bowling.

a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.
(often plural) a building for bowling.
bowling green.

Tennis. the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.

Rare. an aisle.

Idioms for alley

up / down one's alley, Informal. in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes: If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.

Origin of alley

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al(e)y, from Middle French alee “walk, passage,” derivative of feminine of ale, past participle of aler “to walk” (French aller), probably from unattested Vulgar Latin allārī, regularized from allātus, the suppletive past participle of afferre “to bring” (passive afferrī “to be moved, conveyed, to betake oneself”); French aller often allegedly from Latin ambulāre “to walk” (see amble), but this offers grave phonetic problems, since the m and b would not normally be lost

synonym study for alley

2. See street.

Words nearby alley

alleviate, alleviation, alleviative, alleviator, all-expense, alley, alley cat, alley cropping, all eyes, alley gate, alley light

Definition for alley (2 of 2)

alley²

[ al-ee ]

/ ˈæl i /

noun, plural al·leys.Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

a choice, large playing marble.

Origin of alley

1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y², spelling to conform with alley¹

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for alley

During one of our first walks, we came across an alley that we’d never noticed before.
11 Great Microadventures You Can Do Now|The Editors|October 1, 2020|Outside Online
Patients needing MRI scans must be taken outdoors and down an alley, past dumpsters and into a hospital parking lot, where the scan is done in a rented trailer.
Investors Extracted $400 Million From a Hospital Chain That Sometimes Couldn’t Pay for Medical Supplies or Gas for Ambulances|by Peter Elkind with Doris Burke|September 30, 2020|ProPublica
The picture you took of the boy lying in the alley also seemed to strike a chord.
The Photojournalist Who Stared Down Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The alley cat and her kittens would have mugged him already.
Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds|P. J. O’Rourke|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He said his cousin had been found dead in an alley and he had to rush home.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters|Alex Belth|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It had rained while we were inside and the air in the alley smelled almost fresh.
Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis|Stanley Booth|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Trell had a bus ticket to Iowa and the promise of a new life in his pocket when he was fatally shot in a Chicago alley in 2012.
What’s More Obscene Than Rihanna’s Boobs? Instagram’s Kids With Guns|Michael Daly|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In her extremity she saw the mouth of the alley, dodged in, and was safe.
The Battle with the Slum|Jacob A. Riis.
A moment later the Filippeschi and their burden had disappeared into the alley.
The Saracen: Land of the Infidel|Robert Shea
The Nipe moved cautiously along the alley toward the rear of the building that was his target.
Anything You Can Do ...|Gordon Randall Garrett
After a stroll through the alley, we selected the house that had displayed behind it some lovely pheasants and salmon.
My Life in Many States and in Foreign Lands|George Francis Train
Both exerted every nerve, and ten seconds later the wagon rolled out of the open doors, and was guided by Matt up the alley.
Young Auctioneers|Edward Stratemeyer

British Dictionary definitions for alley (1 of 2)

alley¹

/ (ˈælɪ) /

noun

a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings

See bowling alley

tennis, mainly US the space between the singles and doubles sidelines

a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes

up one's alley or down one's alley See street (def. 10)

Word Origin for alley

C14: from Old French alee, from aler to go, ultimately from Latin ambulāre to walk

British Dictionary definitions for alley (2 of 2)

alley²

/ (ˈælɪ) /

noun

a large playing marble

Word Origin for alley

C18: shortened and changed from alabaster

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with alley

alley

In addition to the idiom beginning with alley

alley cat

also see:

blind alley
right up one's alley

单词	alley
释义	alley ¹ [ al-ee ] / ˈæl i / SEE SYNONYMS FOR alley ON THESAURUS.COM noun, plural al·leys. a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc. a narrow back street. a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery. Bowling. a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled. (often plural) a building for bowling. bowling green. Tennis. the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline. Rare. an aisle. Idioms for alley up / down one's alley, Informal. in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes: If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley. Origin of alley ¹ First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al(e)y, from Middle French alee “walk, passage,” derivative of feminine of ale, past participle of aler “to walk” (French aller), probably from unattested Vulgar Latin allārī, regularized from allātus, the suppletive past participle of afferre “to bring” (passive afferrī “to be moved, conveyed, to betake oneself”); French aller often allegedly from Latin ambulāre “to walk” (see amble), but this offers grave phonetic problems, since the m and b would not normally be lost synonym study for alley 2. See street. Words nearby alley alleviate, alleviation, alleviative, alleviator, all-expense, alley, alley cat, alley cropping, all eyes, alley gate, alley light Definition for alley (2 of 2) alley² [ al-ee ] / ˈæl i / noun, plural al·leys.Chiefly Northeastern U.S. a choice, large playing marble. Origin of alley ² 1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y², spelling to conform with alley¹ Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for alley During one of our first walks, we came across an alley that we’d never noticed before. 11 Great Microadventures You Can Do Now\|The Editors\|October 1, 2020\|Outside Online Patients needing MRI scans must be taken outdoors and down an alley, past dumpsters and into a hospital parking lot, where the scan is done in a rented trailer. Investors Extracted $400 Million From a Hospital Chain That Sometimes Couldn’t Pay for Medical Supplies or Gas for Ambulances\|by Peter Elkind with Doris Burke\|September 30, 2020\|ProPublica The picture you took of the boy lying in the alley also seemed to strike a chord. The Photojournalist Who Stared Down Ebola\|Abby Haglage\|November 8, 2014\|DAILY BEAST The alley cat and her kittens would have mugged him already. Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds\|P. J. O’Rourke\|August 9, 2014\|DAILY BEAST He said his cousin had been found dead in an alley and he had to rush home. The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters\|Alex Belth\|August 2, 2014\|DAILY BEAST It had rained while we were inside and the air in the alley smelled almost fresh. Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis\|Stanley Booth\|June 7, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Trell had a bus ticket to Iowa and the promise of a new life in his pocket when he was fatally shot in a Chicago alley in 2012. What’s More Obscene Than Rihanna’s Boobs? Instagram’s Kids With Guns\|Michael Daly\|May 2, 2014\|DAILY BEAST In her extremity she saw the mouth of the alley, dodged in, and was safe. The Battle with the Slum\|Jacob A. Riis. A moment later the Filippeschi and their burden had disappeared into the alley. The Saracen: Land of the Infidel\|Robert Shea The Nipe moved cautiously along the alley toward the rear of the building that was his target. Anything You Can Do ...\|Gordon Randall Garrett After a stroll through the alley, we selected the house that had displayed behind it some lovely pheasants and salmon. My Life in Many States and in Foreign Lands\|George Francis Train Both exerted every nerve, and ten seconds later the wagon rolled out of the open doors, and was guided by Matt up the alley. Young Auctioneers\|Edward Stratemeyer British Dictionary definitions for alley (1 of 2) alley¹ / (ˈælɪ) / noun a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings See bowling alley tennis, mainly US the space between the singles and doubles sidelines a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes up one's alley or down one's alley See street (def. 10) Word Origin for alley C14: from Old French alee, from aler to go, ultimately from Latin ambulāre to walk British Dictionary definitions for alley (2 of 2) alley² / (ˈælɪ) / noun a large playing marble Word Origin for alley C18: shortened and changed from alabaster Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with alley alley In addition to the idiom beginning with alley alley cat also see: blind alley right up one's alley The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to alley lane, walk, passageway, path, alleyway, pathway, back street
随便看	anticancer anticapitalist anticarious anticatalase anticatalyst anticathexis anticathode anti-catholic anticavity anticensorship anticenter antichlor antichoice anticholinergic anticholinesterase antichrist antichthon anticipant anticipate anticipation anticipative anticipatory anticity anticlastic anticlerical

alley

noun, plural al·leys.

Idioms for alley

Origin of alley

synonym study for alley

Words nearby alley

Definition for alley (2 of 2)

noun, plural al·leys.Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

Origin of alley

Example sentences from the Web for alley

British Dictionary definitions for alley (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for alley

British Dictionary definitions for alley (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for alley

Idioms and Phrases with alley

Words related to alley