ballet
pronunciation
How to pronounce ballet in British English:
UK [ˈbæleɪ]
How to pronounce ballet in American English:
US [bæˈleɪ]
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- Noun:
- a theatrical representation of a story performed to music by ballet dancers
- music written for a ballet
Word Origin
- ballet
- ballet: [17] Etymologically, a ballet is a ‘little dance’. English acquired the word, via French ballet, from Italian balletto, a diminutive of ballo ‘dance’, related to English ball (the diminutive of Italian balla ‘spherical ball’ is ballotta, whence English ballot). The noun ballo came from the verb ballare (a descendant via late Latin ballāre of Greek ballízein ‘dance’), of which another derivative was ballerino ‘dancing master’.The feminine form, ballerina, entered English in the late 18th century. Balletomane ‘ballet enthusiast’ is a creation of the 1930s. Another word ballet, also a diminutive, exists, or at least existed, in English. It meant ‘little [spherical] ball’, and was used in the 18th century as a technical term in heraldry.=> ball
- ballet (n.)
- 1660s, from French ballette from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo "a dance" (see ball (n.2)). Balletomane attested by 1930.
Example
- 1. Modern dance was created as a revolt against ballet .
- 2. The first to arrive was a ballet dancer with three little ghosts .
- 3. Dancers will lead classes at the gallery and their presence will tie together the picasso show with english national ballet 's beyond ballets russes season .
- 4. Eg. mary has a keen interest in ballet .
- 5. I am also a ballet teacher .