gala

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈgɑːlə/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈgeɪlə, ˈgælə/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(gālə, galə; esp. Brit.lə)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ga•la /ˈgeɪlə, ˈgælə/USA pronunciation   adj. [usually: before a noun]
  1. marking or proper for a special occasion;
    festive;
    showy:a gala affair.

n. [countable]
  1. a celebration, often with entertainment:a gala held at the concert hall.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ga•la  (gālə, galə; esp. Brit.lə),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. festive;
    festal;
    showy:Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

n. 
  1. a festive occasion;
    celebration;
    special entertainment:a gala featuring opera stars in their most famous scenes.
  2. festal pomp or dress.
  • Old French; see gallant
  • Italian
  • French
  • 1615–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
gala / ˈɡɑːlə ˈɡeɪlə/
  1. a celebration; festive occasion
  2. (as modifier): a gala occasion
  3. a sporting occasion involving competitions in several events: a swimming gala
Etymology: 17th Century: from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, from Old French galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin; compare gallant
'gala' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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