Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Ballet


Bal′letˊ

(băl′lā̍ˊ or băl′lĕt; 277)
,
Noun.
[F., a dim. of
bal
dance. See 2d
Ball
,
Noun.
]
1.
An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing.
2.
The company of persons who perform the ballet.
3.
(Mus.)
A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, – most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers; – also spelled
ballett
.
4.
(Her.)
A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.

Webster 1828 Edition


Ballet

BAL'LET

, n.
20
1.
A kind of dance; an interlude; a comic dance, consisting of a series of several airs, with different movements, representing some subject or action.
2.
A kind of dramatic poem, representing some fabulous action or subject, in which several persons appear and recite things, under the name of some deity or personage.
In heraldry, ballets or balls, a bearing in coats of arms, denominated according to their color, bezants, plates, hurts, &c.

Definition 2024


ballet

ballet

English

A pas de deux of a production of the ballet Don Quixote.

Noun

ballet (plural ballets)

  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. (music) A light part song, frequently with a fa-la-la chorus, common among Elizabethan and Italian Renaissance composers.
  5. (heraldry) A bearing in coats of arms representing one or more balls, called bezants, plates, etc., according to colour.

Derived terms

Translations

See also


Catalan

Noun

ballet m (plural ballets)

  1. ballet

Danish

Etymology

Either from French ballet or directly from Italian balletto, the diminutive form of ballo (dance, ball).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /balɛt/, [b̥aˈlɛd̥]

Noun

ballet c (singular definite balletten, plural indefinite balletter)

  1. ballet

Inflection


French

Etymology

From Italian balletto.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /balɛ/

Noun

ballet m (plural ballets)

  1. ballet

German

Verb

ballet

  1. Second-person plural subjunctive I of ballen.

Northern Sami

Verb

ballet

  1. inflection of ballat:
    1. third-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person singular past indicative
    3. second-person plural imperative

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

ballet n

  1. definite singular of ball (Etymology 2)

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

ballet n

  1. definite singular of ball (Etymology 2)

Spanish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /baˈle/, /baˈlet/

Noun

ballet m (uncountable)

  1. ballet