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

In his quest to transform Kimberly-Clark to an engine of growth and a true challenger in the beauty and wellness space, he said he always considered Kenvue to be “the belle of the ball.”

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During the Comic Con panel, Evans called the festivities “wonderful and beautiful,” but said that he and his belle were happy to be winding down after the whole ordeal.

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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.

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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.

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

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