a|la

a|la «AY luh», noun, plural a|lae «AY lee».

1. a wing.

2. any winglike structure: a) one of the lateral cartilages of the nose. b) one of the two side petals of any flower shaped like a sweet pea.

3. an armpit.

╂[< Latin āla]

a la or à la «AH luh; French a la»,

in the manner of; in the style of: »

If we are talking about a massed conventional aggression à la World War II, aeal inspection can provide adequate warning (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).

╂[< French à la]

Usage a la, à la. Although originally French, a la is now regarded as an English preposition: »

a la Hollywood.

In formal writing and some advertising (for cosmetics and fashionable clothes), the French spelling is usually used: à la.

Ala.,

Alabama.

ALA (no periods),

American Library Association.

A.L.A.

Australian Library Association.