What does alae mean?
'Alae' is the plural of the Latin-derived term 'ala', meaning a wing or winglike structure. In modern English it appears almost exclusively in scientific contexts, where it denotes paired, flattened projections resembling wings. Anatomists speak of the alae nasi — the flared, cartilaginous outer walls of the nostrils that give the nose its breadth — while zoologists use the word for winglike plates on insects and other animals, and botanists for wing-shaped outgrowths on seeds or stems. Because the word is borrowed directly from Latin, it retains its classical plural form rather than taking an English '-s'. Though unfamiliar to most general readers, 'alae' is a precise and useful term in medicine and biology, allowing writers to describe these distinctive structures without resorting to vague phrases like 'side flaps' or 'wings'. Its everyday presence is closer than most people realize: every time the nostrils flare, the alae are at work.
nounThe plural of 'ala': either of the paired winglike anatomical structures or lateral projections found in various organisms and body parts, such as the wings of an insect or the flared sides of the nose.
- A winglike lateral projection or appendage, especially on an insect, plant part, or anatomical structure.
- Either of the two flared, winglike outer walls of the nostrils (the alae nasi).
"Under the microscope, the alae of the beetle's thorax were clearly visible as thin, chitinous plates."
"The surgeon noted that the alae nasi flared slightly as the patient took a deep breath."
"In many beetles, the alae serve as protective covers over the delicate hindwings."
'Alae' is itself a plural form (of 'ala') and does not take a further English plural; singular references should use 'ala'.
"Each ala of the nose was examined separately, but together they are called the alae nasi."
Your nostrils owe their shape to the alae nasi — the word for insect wings literally lives on your face.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alae
'Alae' comes directly from Latin, where 'ala' meant a wing or armpit and was the regular plural 'alae' for the paired wings of birds. The Latin noun derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *al-, which also underlies related forms such as 'alate' (winged) and 'alary' (pertaining to wings) in English scientific vocabulary. The word entered English anatomical and zoological usage through Renaissance and early modern Latin scholarship, retaining its original Latin plural form unchanged.
Related word forms
How alae is actually used
'Alae' is a technical term confined chiefly to anatomy, zoology, botany, and entomology; it is rarely encountered in everyday speech. It is always treated as a plural in English, though it is sometimes used attributively before a noun (e.g., 'alae nasi').
Easily confused with alae
'Ala' is the singular form referring to one winglike structure, while 'alae' refers to two or more such structures.