From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishallianceal‧li‧ance /əˈlaɪəns/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 TOGETHERan arrangement in which two or more countries, groups etc agree to work together to try to change or achieve somethingalliance with Britain’s military alliance with her NATO partnersalliance between the possibility of a political alliance between the two partiesmake/enter into/form/forge an alliance (=agree to work together) The companies have formed an alliance to market the product.2 TOGETHERa group of two or more countries, groups etc who work together to achieve something independent organizations and alliances3 → in alliance (with somebody/something)4 formal a close relationship, especially a marriage, between people → unholy alliance at unholy(1)COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa military allianceNATO has been the most successful military alliance in history.a political allianceThey agreed not to make any political alliance with the East.a strategic alliance (=arranged as part of a military, political, or business plan)Strategic alliances are being forged with major European companies.an electoral alliance (=made between parties before an election)The weaker Liberal Democratic party was now considering an electoral alliance with Labour.shifting alliances (=changing frequently)the shifting alliances in the Middle Easta strong/close allianceHe forged a strong alliance between his state and the church.a loose alliance (=not strong)A loose alliance of opposition groups formed in 1990.verbsmake/form an allianceIn 1902, Japan made an alliance with Britain.go into/enter into an alliance with somebodySpain then entered into an alliance with France.forge an alliance (=develop a new or strong alliance)They won the election by forging an alliance with the Social Democrats.break (off) an alliance (=end it)The Athenians broke off the alliance with Sparta and made alliances with Argos and Thessaly.
Examples from the Corpus
alliance• Apple and online provider service America Online formed an alliance.• These last two organizations are alliances of many of the organizations previously mentioned though they also tap new members.• Some are more easily drawn into a regional class alliance than others.• The two countries entered into a defensive alliance.• NATO is a formal military alliance with America at its head.• the NATO alliance• Instead, it has vaguely proposed some form of co-operation or alliance with Pirelli.political alliance• He built a political alliance with his old college chum and fellow L. A. Democrat, Rep.• We should therefore seek evidence for long-distance exchange as indications of political alliances and the growth of centralised political organisation.• On other occasions a high settlement has been desired as part of a strategy of political alliances.• Waechter has consistently refused political alliances with either left or right.• In a world of shifting political alliances, it has always been true that where you stand depends on where you sit.• Castells's interest in the politics of consumption and the political alliances surrounding consumption have, for example, been developed by Dunleavy.From Longman Business Dictionaryallianceal‧li‧ance /əˈlaɪəns/ noun [countable]COMMERCE1an agreement between two or more organizations to work togetherThe two insurance companies agreed to form an alliance.alliance betweenan alliance between the two media groupsalliance withThe firm said it may need to form an alliance with another company to survive.2in alliance with if two or more organizations are in alliance with each other, they work togetherThe Japanese car company said it would only enter Eastern Europe in alliance with a European manufacturer. 