alate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+ (Very Rare/Technical)Formal, Scientific, Technical (chiefly used in biology, botany, and entomology)
Quick answer
What does “alate” mean?
having wings or wing-like extensions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
having wings or wing-like extensions.
Pertaining to organisms, especially insects or seeds, that possess wings for dispersal; can describe a state of being winged or having wing-like structures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; term is equally rare and technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical, neutral, descriptive.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely in academic biological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “alate” in a Sentence
[The/An] NOUN is alate.[The] alate NOUN VERB...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No verb usage exists)
American English
- (No verb usage exists)
adverb
British English
- (No adverb usage exists)
American English
- (No adverb usage exists)
adjective
British English
- The alate aphids dispersed from the colony on the wind.
- One can distinguish the alate form of the species by its prominent wing pads.
American English
- Under a microscope, the alate seeds revealed intricate wing structures.
- The research focused on the alate morph of the insect lifecycle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biological sciences to describe insects (e.g., aphids) or seeds/diaspores with wings.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context; used precisely in entomology, botany, and mycology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alate”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alate”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The bird alated away').
- Using it to mean 'fly quickly'.
- Pronouncing it /əˈleɪt/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, technical term used almost exclusively in scientific fields like biology and botany.
No, 'alate' is only used as an adjective. There is no verb form.
The simplest everyday synonym is 'winged'.
It is pronounced /ˈeɪ.leɪt/ (AY-layt), with the stress on the first syllable, which sounds like the letter 'A'.
Alate is usually formal, scientific, technical (chiefly used in biology, botany, and entomology) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'A-LATE' butterfly: It's never late because it has wings (alate).
Conceptual Metaphor
WINGS ARE A STATE OF BEING (static property, not motion).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'alate' most appropriately used?