allies

[ al-ahyz, uh-lahyz ]
/ ˈæl aɪz, əˈlaɪz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR allies ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

plural of ally.
(initial capital letter) (in World War I) the powers of the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, Russia), with the nations allied with them (Belgium, Serbia, Japan, Italy, etc., not including the United States), or, loosely, with all the nations (including the United States) allied or associated with them as opposed to the Central Powers.
(initial capital letter) the 26 nations that fought against the Axis in World War II and, with subsequent additions, signed the charter of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945.
(initial capital letter) the member nations of NATO.

VIDEO FOR ALLIES

WATCH NOW: We Asked: What Does The Word "Allies" Mean To You?

This man answered ... "To be allies is people or entities coming together for a common purpose or for a common goal, you know?"

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Words nearby allies

alliance, alliance for progress, allied, allied health, allier, allies, alligate, alligator, alligator clip, alligator forceps, alligator gar

Definition for allies (2 of 2)

ally
[ verb uh-lahy; noun al-ahy, uh-lahy ]
/ verb əˈlaɪ; noun ˈæl aɪ, əˈlaɪ /

verb (used with object), al·lied, al·ly·ing.

to unite formally, as by treaty, league, marriage, or the like (usually followed by with or to): Russia allied itself to France.
to associate or connect by some mutual relationship, as resemblance or friendship.

verb (used without object), al·lied, al·ly·ing.

to enter into an alliance; join; unite.

noun, plural al·lies.

a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose: Canada and the United States were allies in World War II.
Biology. a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionary relationship to another, often as a member of the same family: The squash is an ally of the watermelon.
a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.

Origin of ally

1250–1300; Middle English alien < Anglo-French al(l)ier, aillaier, Old French alier < Latin alligāre to bind to. See alloy

OTHER WORDS FROM ally

al·li·a·ble, adjective pre·al·ly, noun, plural pre·al·lies. pre·al·ly, verb, pre·al·lied, pre·al·ly·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ally

allay alley alloy ally (see synonym study at allay)

Words related to allies

colleague, partner, friend, associate, helper, accessory, coadjutor, confederate, collaborator, accomplice, co-worker

Example sentences from the Web for allies

British Dictionary definitions for allies (1 of 3)

allies
/ (ˈælaɪz) /

noun

the plural of ally

British Dictionary definitions for allies (2 of 3)

Allies
/ (ˈælaɪz) /

pl n

(in World War I) the powers of the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain) together with the nations allied with them
(in World War II) the countries that fought against the Axis. The main Allied powers were Britain and the Commonwealth countries, the US, the Soviet Union, France, China, and Poland See also Axis

British Dictionary definitions for allies (3 of 3)

ally

verb (əˈlaɪ) -lies, -lying or -lied (usually foll by to or with)

to unite or be united, esp formally, as by treaty, confederation, or marriage
(tr; usually passive) to connect or be related, as through being similar or compatible

noun (ˈælaɪ, əˈlaɪ) plural -lies

a country, person, or group allied with another
a plant, animal, substance, etc, closely related to another in characteristics or form

Word Origin for ally

C14: from Old French alier to join, from Latin alligāre to bind to, from ligāre to bind

Cultural definitions for allies

Allies

The victorious allied nations of World War I and World War II. In World War I, the Allies included Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States. In World War II, the Allies included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States.