Ballad definition |Dictionary.com

Ballad

11 dictionary results for: Ballad

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

bal·lad

[bal-uh

d] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	any light, simple song, esp. one of sentimental or romantic character, having two or more stanzas all sung to the same melody.

2.	a simple narrative poem of folk origin, composed in short stanzas and adapted for singing.

3.	any poem written in similar style.

4.	the music for a ballad.

5.	a sentimental or romantic popular song.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME balade < MF < OPr balada dance, dancing-song, equiv. to bal(ar) to dance (< LL ballāre; see ball²) + -ada -ade¹

]

—Related forms

bal·lad·ic

[buh-lad-ik] Pronunciation Key, adjective

bal·lad·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

bal·lad (bāl'əd) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
2. The music for such a poem.
A popular song especially of a romantic or sentimental nature.

[Middle English balade, poem or song in stanza form, from Old French ballade, from Old Provençal balada, song sung while dancing, from balar, to dance, from Late Latin ballāre, to dance; see ball².]

bal·lad'ic (bə-lād'ĭk, bā-) adj.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ballad

1492, from O.Fr. ballade "dancing song," from O.Prov. ballada "(poem for a) dance," from L.L. ballare "to dance" (see ball (2)). Ballade, c.1386 (popularized 19c. as a type of musical composition by Frédéric Chopin), represents an earlier borrowing of the same O.Fr. word. Technically, a poem consisting of one or more triplets of seven- (later eight-) lined stanzas, each ending with the same line as the refrain, usually with an envoy.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

ballad
noun
1.	a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
2.	a narrative poem of popular origin

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
ballad

A simple narrative song, or a narrative poem suitable for singing. The ballad usually has a short stanza, such as:

There are twelve months in all the year,
As I hear many men say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.

[Chapter:] Conventions of Written English

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
ballad

A simple narrative song, or, alternatively, a narrative poem suitable for singing. (See under “Conventions of Written English.”)

[Chapter:] Fine Arts

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ballad

Bal"lad\, n. [OE. balade, OF. balade, F. ballade, fr. Pr. ballada a dancing song, fr. ballare to dance; cf. It. ballata. See 2d Ball, n., and Ballet.] A popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; as, the ballad of Chevy Chase; esp., a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ballad

Bal"lad\, v. i. To make or sing ballads. [Obs.]

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ballad

Bal"lad\, v. t. To make mention of in ballads. [Obs.]

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

BALLAD

BALLAD: in Acronym Finder