1. (

• lanthanum ,
• La ,
• atomic_number_ ,

) a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth ;

2. (

• Louisiana ,
• Pelican_State ,
• LA ,
• La.

) a state in southern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War ;

3. (

• la ,
• lah

) the syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization ;