Alley
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈæli/
- Rhymes: -æli
Origin 1
Anglo-Norman and Old French alee, feminine of alé, past participle of aler ("to go") (French aller). See also allée.
Full definition of alley
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, the gap.He hit one deep into the alley.
- (bowling) An establishment where bowling is played; bowling alley.
- (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.
- MiltonI know each lane and every alley green.
- 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.
Derived terms
Origin 2
Diminutive of alabaster.