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Definition of ally noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ally

noun
 
 
/ˈælaɪ/
 
/ˈælaɪ/
(plural allies)
Word Family
  • ally verb noun
  • allied adjective
  • alliance noun
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  1.  
    [countable] a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in case of a war
    • our European/NATO allies
    • a loyal ally of the United States
    • Portugal is a traditional ally of England.
    Wordfinder
    Topics Politicsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • important
    • key
    • …
    verb + ally
    • have
    • find
    • gain
    • …
    preposition
    • ally against
    phrases
    • find an ally in somebody
    • have an ally in somebody
    • a friend and ally
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] a person who helps and supports somebody who is in a difficult situation, especially a politician
    • a close ally and friend of the prime minister
    • her most powerful political ally
    • His sister was his ally against their grandparents.
    Extra Examples
    • Charles remained a close ally of the French king.
    • He now had an ally against his boss.
    • Jane felt that she had an ally.
    • She had found an ally in her old teacher.
    Topics Family and relationshipsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • important
    • key
    • …
    verb + ally
    • have
    • find
    • gain
    • …
    preposition
    • ally against
    phrases
    • find an ally in somebody
    • have an ally in somebody
    • a friend and ally
    • …
    See full entry
  3. a person who offers their support to a particular group of people in society that they themselves do not belong to, in order to help ensure their basic rights and ability to be happy and successful in society
    • Fran has been an ally to First Nations people her whole life.
    • Being an ally to somebody means acting when you see an injustice.
    Topics Social issuesc2, People in societyc2
  4.  
    the Allies
    [plural] the group of countries including the UK and the US that fought together in the First and Second World Wars
    • the Western Allies
    CultureIn the First World War the Allies included Britain, France, Italy, Russia, the US and the countries of the British Empire. They fought against Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. In the Second World War the Allies included Britain, France, the US, the USSR and the countries of the Commonwealth. They fought against Germany, Italy and Japan (the Axis powers).
    5. Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare ‘bind together’, from ad- ‘to’ + ligare ‘to bind’; the noun is partly via Old French alie ‘allied’. Compare with alloy.
See ally in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee ally in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: ally

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trait
noun
 
 
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