a la mode

See also: alamode and à la mode

English

Pie à la mode

Alternative forms

• à la mode
• alamode
• ala mode

Etymology

From French à la mode (“in fashion”). The US sense was coined by polyglot restaurant owner John Gieriet in Minnesota in the 1800s though later attributed to Berry Hall and Charles Watson Townsend.

Adjective

a la mode (not comparable)

1. Fashionable; in the current style or fashion.
2. (US) Served with ice cream.

   Our pie a la mode has a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

   • November 1959, "Martin Bunn", Popular Science, Gus Pulls a Switch:

     With a bowl of beef stew, apple pie a la mode, and two cups of coffee under his belt, Gus Wilson walked leisurely back to the Model Garage.

3. Of beef: larded and stewed with vegetables.

Synonyms

• (fashionable): cool, trendy, classy

Adverb

a la mode (comparative more a la mode, superlative most a la mode)

1. In a particular style or fashion.

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Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• à la mode

Etymology

From French à la mode (“in fashion”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /alamɔːd/

Adverb

a la mode

1. fashionable; in a particular style or fashion.
2. modern, the latest trend

References

• la mode “a la mode” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “a la mode” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).