alley
See also: Alley
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈæ.li/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -æli
Etymology 1
From Middle English aley, from Old French alee, feminine of alé, past participle of aler (“to go”) (French aller). See also allée.
Noun
alley (plural alleys)
- A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
- The parking lot to my friend's apartment building is in the alley.
- (baseball) The area between the outfielders.
- He hit one deep into the alley.
- (bowling) An establishment where bowling is played.
- (tennis) The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
- A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- I know each lane and every alley green.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
- (perspective drawing) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
- The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
Synonyms
- (narrow street): See Thesaurus:alley
- (area between the outfielders): gap
- (bowling establishment): bowling alley
Derived terms
Terms derived from alley
Translations
narrow street
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Etymology 2
Diminutive of alabaster, from which they were once made.
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