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Definition of ballet noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ballet

noun
 
/ˈbæleɪ/
 
/bæˈleɪ/
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  1. [uncountable] a style of dancing that tells a dramatic story with music but no talking or singing
    • She wants to be a ballet dancer.
    • ballet shoes
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • classical
    • contemporary
    • modern
    verb + ballet
    • learn
    • study
    • teach
    ballet + noun
    • music
    • dancer
    • company
    See full entry
  2. [countable] a story or work of art performed by a group of ballet dancers
    • ‘Swan Lake’ is one of the great classical ballets.
    Topics Film and theatreb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • classical
    • contemporary
    • modern
    verb + ballet
    • learn
    • study
    • teach
    ballet + noun
    • music
    • dancer
    • company
    See full entry
  3. [countable + singular or plural verb] a group of dancers who work and perform ballet together
    • members of the Royal Ballet
    • The Royal Ballet is/are dancing ‘Giselle’.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • classical
    • contemporary
    • modern
    verb + ballet
    • learn
    • study
    • teach
    ballet + noun
    • music
    • dancer
    • company
    See full entry
  4. Word Originmid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo ‘dance’, from late Latin ballare ‘to dance’; related to Greek ballizein ‘to dance’.
See ballet in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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