Ballet Meaning
/bælˈeɪ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA classical form of dance.
nounA theatrical presentation of such dancing, usually with music, sometimes in the form of a story.
Sentence Examples
A ballet theater is a place in which I can study motion.
He stands alone as a conductor of ballet music.
She wants to be a ballet dancer.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She practiced graceful leaps every day for the upcoming ____ performance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She has been taking ____ lessons since she was five years old city.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French ballet, from Italian balletto (“short dance, ballet”), diminutive form of ballo (“group dance”), from Late Latin ballō (“to dance”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"9. Peter West, Ar. bears sable Ballets argent a Lyon Rampant."
— 1741, Richard Izacke, Remarkable Antiquities of the City of Exeter … by Richard Izacke … Second Edition:
"Food preparation on a potager no doubt became a kitchen ballet in which pans were constantly shifted, coals constantly replenished, and grates shaken out."
— 1990, Historic Preservation: Quarterly of the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings, volumes 42-43:
"Henry Payton joined Alan on the sidelines during the conclusion of the oddly delicate ballet known as On-Scene Investigation."
— 1991, Stephen King, Needful Things:
"Unfortunately, he could only sustain so much abuse. Footfalls approached. Kanoa's lips smacked and his jaw hung open. His eyelids fluttered, their underlying gaze balleting without clarity. He felt beyond sick, and his world spun immensely. A garbled voice of incoherency seemed to be his only link to this realm of consciousness."
— 2016, Jacob Russell Dring, Endless the Chase:
"Frankie's obviously going to ballet her way to the trophy."
— 2017, Num Nums, “A Total Bust a Move”, in The ZhuZhus:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She practiced graceful leaps every day for the upcoming ____ performance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She has been taking ____ lessons since she was five years old city.