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alley
1[al-ee]
noun
plural
alleysa 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.
Tennis.the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.
Rare.an aisle.
alley
2[al-ee]
noun
plural
alleysa choice, large playing marble.
alley
1/ ˈæɪ /
noun
a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings
See bowling alley
tennis the space between the singles and doubles sidelines
a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes
See street
alley
2/ ˈæɪ /
noun
a large playing marble
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of alley1
Origin of alley2
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of alley1
Origin of alley2
Idioms and Phrases
up / down one's alley, in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes.
If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
They walked a bit in a secluded alley, then went inside.
Not a single customer browsed at A Accessory, a store in the alley Jim Hwang has operated for more than two decades.
That left the bars of West Hollywood, where you would line up against the wall like pins in a bowling alley and wait for a strike.
It will be one continuous structure connected across an alley by two pedestrian bridges and a tunnel.
She said other homeless people in the alley along the warehouse have stolen brooms and coveralls that she said cost up to $100 each.
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When To Use
An alley is a narrow passage between buildings or other structures. The word alleyway means the same thing.Alley can also refer to a narrow path or passage behind a row of houses, such as one that allows access to garages and back yards.An alley can also be a narrow street or lane—the word alley might even be used in the name of such a street, as in Elfreth’s Alley. All of these senses of alley refer to passages that are outside—you wouldn’t normally call a narrow passage an alley if it is indoors.The term bowling alley refers to a building with lanes for bowling—which can also be called alleys.The proper plural of alley is alleys.Example: We took a shortcut through the narrow alley between the shops.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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