a gay festivity
"The annual village gala was filled with laughter, music, and dancing under the stars."
Pomp, show, or festivity.
"The gardener planted gala apples to create a crisp snack that combined the sweetness of both parent varieties."
A member of an androgynous class of priests of the Sumerian goddess Inanna.
A type of apple, a cross-pollination between Kidd's Orange Red and Golden Delicious.
In plain English: A gala is an exciting, formal party with fancy food and entertainment that people attend to celebrate something special.
"The charity gala raised thousands of dollars for the local hospital."
Usage: Use this term to describe a grand celebration rather than a specific religious title in modern contexts. Avoid confusing it with "gala" as an adjective meaning formal and festive unless referring specifically to the Sumerian priestly class.
Celebratory; festive.
"The annual charity gala was filled with laughter, music, and dancing."
Galashiels, a town in Scotland.
"The local fair was held on the green near the historic Gala bridge in Galashiels."
Gala comes from Old French for "rejoicing" or directly from Italian and Spanish words meaning a festive occasion. The word entered English with this celebratory sense while likely avoiding confusion in French by keeping its final 'a'.