belle

¹

[bel]

noun

1. a woman or girl admired for her beauty and charm.

2. the most beautiful, charming, or engaging woman or girl among a number.

   the belle of the ball.

Belle

²

[bel]

noun

1. a first name, form of Bella.

belle

/ bɛl /

noun

1. a beautiful girl or woman

2. the most attractive or admired girl or woman at a place, function, etc (esp in the phrase the belle of the ball )

Word History and Origins

Origin of belle¹

1615–25; < French; Old French bele < Latin bella, feminine of bellus fine, good-looking. See beau

Word History and Origins

Origin of belle¹

C17: from French, feminine of _beau

Example Sentences

Once the press gets wind that Mary’s marriage has ended, the gossip is relentless, and the one-time belle of the ball can’t rustle up so much as a small tea party.

From Salon

So when the belle of the ball took a break from the revelry and sat down to order a drink, I subtly repositioned myself on the couch across from her.

From Salon

I didn't grow up a Southern belle in a lot of ways because I grew up very middle-class.

From Salon

Many of them were built in the early 20th century - grand belle epoque palaces serving a then emerging class of privileged, primarily English tourists.

From BBC

He’s charismatic enough, empathetic enough and wise enough that he could be the belle of the ball next Christmas and make everybody feel like a million bucks.

From Los Angeles Times