aisle
/aɪ̯l/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: aisles
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A wing of a building, notably in a church separated from the nave proper by piers.
Noun
Examples
Hester Earle and Violet Wayne were moving about the aisle with bundles of wheat-ears and streamers of ivy, for the harvest thanksgiving was shortly to be celebrated, while the vicar stood waiting for their directions on the chancel steps with a great handful of crimson gladioli.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A clear path/passage through rows of seating.
Noun
Examples
But the design of the '730s' wasn't just about the seating formation. The Metro-style walkthrough interior was chosen because it is much more spacious than the '323s', where the interconnecting doors between carriages, narrow central aisle, and cramped areas by the passenger doors had been deemed pa
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “aisle” mean?
A wing of a building, notably in a church separated from the nave proper by piers.
Is “aisle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.