ballerina

American  

[bal-uh-ree-nuh] / ˌbæl əˈri nə /

noun

1. a principal female dancer in a ballet company.

2. any female ballet dancer.

3. a woman's very low-heeled or heelless shoe or slipper, made to resemble a ballet slipper.

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ballerina British  

/ ˌbæləˈriːnə /

noun

1. a female ballet dancer

2. the principal female dancer of a ballet company

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ballerina Cultural  

1. In ballet, a female dancer. (See prima ballerina.)

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Etymology

Origin of ballerina

1785–95; < Italian, feminine of ballerino professional dancer, probably equivalent to baller ( ia ) dance ( ball ( are ) to dance (< Late Latin; ball ² ) + -eria < Old French; -ery ) + -ino -ine ¹

Example Sentences

It’s been 15 years since a performer won for a horror role: Natalie Portman as a ballerina losing her grip on reality in “Black Swan.”

From Los Angeles Times

Her deep auburn hair was pulled up in an elegant ballerina bun.

From Literature

“You chose it because you said ferns were the ballerinas of plants. Don’t you remember how much you loved your old dance classes? You know, I used to love dancing, too.”

From Literature

On a Christmas tree greeting card, for example, a miniature ballerina ornament had three separate colors, including red lips.

From The Wall Street Journal

With the lithe, athletic body of the ballerina, she was nothing like her fellow models.

From BBC