a·la (??l?)n. pl. a·lae (??l?) 1. Zoology A wing or winglike structure or part.2. Anatomy A flat, winglike anatomic process or part, especially of bone.3. Botany The flattened border of some stems, fruits, and seeds, or either one of the two side petals of certain flowers in the pea family.[Latin ?la, wing.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.ala (?e?l?) n, pl alae (?e?li?) 1. (Zoology) zoology a wing or flat winglike process or structure, such as a part of some bones and cartilages2. (Botany) 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[C18: from Latin ?la a wing]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014à la or a la (?? l?, ?? l?, ?æl ?) prep. in the manner or style of: a short poem à la Ogden Nash; tuna à la provençale.[1580?90;