gala
gala Lexical Profile
gala Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A festive social occasion, celebration, or elaborate public entertainment, often held as a formal dinner or charity benefit.
"The museum's annual fundraising gala attracted hundreds of patrons and community leaders."
A popular cultivated variety of dessert apple originating in New Zealand, characterized by thin red-and-yellow striped skin and crisp, mildly sweet flesh.
"She sliced a crisp Gala apple to add to the autumn walnut salad."
British A special sporting competition or meet, especially for swimming or athletics, featuring a series of races and events.
"She won two gold medals at the regional swimming gala last Saturday."
• adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a festive occasion, celebration, or special public entertainment.
"The symphony orchestra gave a gala performance to mark the opening of the new concert hall."
• Rhymes for gala
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from French or Italian gala ('festive attire, merriment'), ultimately from Old French gale ('rejoicing, pleasure'). The apple cultivar sense was developed in New Zealand in the 1930s as a cross between Kidd's Orange Red and Golden Delicious.