ballet

/bælˈeɪ/

Etymology

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

noun

  1. A classical form of dance.“a classically-trained ballet dancer”
  2. A theatrical presentation of such dancing, usually with music, sometimes in the form of a story.“Let's go to the ballet in the theatre tomorrow!”
  3. The company of persons who perform this dance.“Zara joined the ballet at the age of 14.”
  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.“9. Peter West, Ar. bears sable Ballets argent a Lyon Rampant.”
  6. Any intricate series of operations involving coordination between individuals.“Food preparation on a potager no doubt became a kitchen ballet in which pans were constantly shifted, coals constantly replenished, and grates shaken out.”

verb

  1. To perform an action reminiscent of ballet dancing.“Situations that typically require longer iliac limbs than the measurements suggest include extreme iliac tortuosity, “balleting” of the limbs (Endurant and Excluder) (Fig. 90-3), and the need to extend to the external iliac arteries. It these anatomic circumstances, it is prudent to choose a longer length when in doubt.”