aisle
EYE-ul
/aɪl/
A passage between rows of shelves in a store or seats in a theater.
In a supermarket context, it specifically refers to the long walkways flanked by products.
The story behind the word. The word 'aisle' comes from the Latin 'ala', meaning 'wing'. It originally referred to the side wings of a church, separated from the main body by rows of pillars. Over time, it evolved to describe any narrow passage between rows of seating or shelving.
Word relationships
- passageway: A more general term for any narrow path between two things.
- corridor: Usually refers to a passage in a building with walls on both sides, rather than shelves.
Commonly confused with
- isle: An 'isle' is a small island, whereas an 'aisle' is a walkway.
Word family
- aisles (noun): Plural form of aisle.
Collocations
- aisle seat
- frozen food aisle
- walk down the aisle
Example sentences
- "You can find the canned tomatoes in the third aisle on the left." Supermarket navigation
- "I'll be in the frozen food aisle if you need me." General usage
Memory hook
Think of the 'A' in Aisle as a long, straight path you walk down. Aisle: A path for your eyes to see the shelves.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'isle', which refers to a small island.
Fun facts
- Supermarkets are often designed to keep shoppers in the aisles longer to encourage impulse buys.
- The 'aisle' in a church is where the phrase 'walking down the aisle' for marriage comes from.
Also appears in
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