• (General American) enPR: bă-lāʹ, băʹlā('), IPA: /bælˈeɪ/, /ˈbæl(ˌ)eɪ/
• (RP) IPA: /ˈbal.eɪ/, /ˈbal.ɪ/
• (Australia) IPA: /bælˈæɪ/
• (New Zealand) IPA: /bɛlˈæɪ/
• (Scotland) IPA: /bɐleː/, /bɐlɪː/

ballet

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. (music) A light part song, frequently with a fa-la-la chorus, common among Elizabethan and Italian Renaissance composers.
5. (heraldiccharge, uncommon) A (small) ball i.e. roundel on a coat of arms, called a bezant, plate, etc., according to colour.
6. (figurative) Any intricate series of operations involving coordination between individuals.
   • 1990, Historic Preservation: Quarterly of the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings, volumes 42-43:

     Food preparation on a potager no doubt became a kitchen ballet in which pans were constantly shifted, coals constantly replenished, and grates shaken out.

• French: ballet
• German: Ballett
• Italian: balletto
• Portuguese: balé
• Russian: бале́т
• Spanish: ballet, baile

• French: ballet
• German: Ballett
• Portuguese: balé
• Russian: бале́т

ballet (ballets, present participle balleting; simple past and past participle balleted)

1. To perform an action reminiscent of ballet dancing.
   • 2014 Rutherford's Vascular Surgery E-Book - Page 1340

     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.

   • 2016, Jacob Russell Dring, Endless the Chase:

     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.

   • 2017, Num Nums, “A Total Bust a Move”, in The ZhuZhus:

     Frankie's obviously going to ballet her way to the trophy.