aisle

UK: /ˈaɪl/ US: /aɪl/ ,(īl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

aisle /aɪl/   n. [countable]

1. a walkway between or along sections of seats, shelves, counters, etc., as in a theater, church, or department store.

Idioms

2. Idioms (rolling) in the aisles, (of an audience) convulsed with laughter.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

aisle  (īl), n. 

1. a walkway between or along sections of seats in a theater, classroom, or the like.
2. Architecture
   • Architecture a longitudinal division of an interior area, as in a church, separated from the main area by an arcade or the like.
   • Architecture any of the longitudinal divisions of a church or the like.
3. in the aisles, (of an audience) convulsed with laughter.

• Latin āla wing, cognate with axle. See ala
• Middle French
• French aile wing) of earlier isle (with s from isle), ile; replacing Middle English ele
• alteration (with ai 1350–1400

aisled, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

aisle / aɪl/ noun

1. a passageway separating seating areas in a theatre, church, etc; gangway
2. a lateral division in a church flanking the nave or chancel

Etymology: 14th Century ele (later aile, aisle, through confusion with isle (island)), via Old French from Latin āla wing

aisled adjective