English Explanatory Dictionary

ballet

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A classical form of dance.
  2. A theatrical presentation of such dancing, usually with music, sometimes in the form of a story.
  3. The company of persons who perform this dance.
  4. A light part song, frequently with a fa-la-la chorus, common among Elizabethan and Italian Renaissance composers.
  5. A (small) ball i.e. roundel on a coat of arms, called a bezant, plate, etc., according to colour.
  6. Any intricate series of operations involving coordination between individuals.
verb
  1. To perform an action reminiscent of ballet dancing.

Pronunciation

bă-lāʹ băʹlā /bælˈeɪ/ /ˈbæl(ˌ)eɪ/ en-us-ballet.flac /ˈbal.eɪ/ /ˈbal.ɪ/ /bælˈæɪ/ /bɛlˈæɪ/ /bale/ /bɐleː/ /bɐlɪː/

Word forms

ballet ballets balleting balleted

Etymology

Borrowed from French ballet, from Italian balletto (“short dance, ballet”), diminutive form of ballo (“group dance”), from Late Latin ballō (“to dance”).

Related words

mime modern dance

Derived words

antiballet ballet boot balletcore ballet d'action ballet dad ballet dancer ballet flat ballet flats balletgoer balletgoing balletic balletlike ballet master balletmaster ballet mistress ballet mom ballet mum ballet music balletomane balletomania ballet on horseback ballet shoe ballet skiing ballet slipper ballet troupe balletwear fairy ballet nonballet preballet ski ballet water ballet
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