1. Plural of ala; wing-like structures or appendages in anatomy and zoology.
Usage: technical; anatomy; zoology

Examples

• The insect's alae were delicate and translucent.
• In anatomy, the alae of the nose are the outer curved edges of the nostrils.
• The bird's alae extended fully during flight.
• Bats use their alae, which are modified forelimbs, for echolocation and movement.
• The alae of the sphenoid bone are important landmarks in skull anatomy.