boule

[ bool ]

/ bul /

noun

Also called birne. a cylindrical lump of material for synthetic gems, made by the Verneuil process.

a metal ball, usually made out of steel, used in pétanque.

Sometimes boules. pétanque.

Nearby words

boulder, boulder canyon, boulder clay, boulder dam, bouldering, boule, boules, bouleuterion, boulevard, boulevardier, bouleversement

Origin of boule

1915–20; < French: literally, a ball; see bowl²

Definition for boule (2 of 4)

boule

[ bool ]

/ bul /

noun (often initial capital letter) Furniture.

buhl.

Also called boule·work

[bool-wurk] /ˈbulˌwɜrk/.

Definition for boule (3 of 4)

Boule

[ boo-lee, boo-ley ]

/ ˈbu li, buˈleɪ /

noun

the legislative assembly of modern Greece.

(sometimes lowercase) a state legislative, advisory, or administrative council in ancient Greece.

Origin of Boule

1840–50; < Greek: a council, body of chosen ones

Definition for boule (4 of 4)

buhl

or boule, boulle

[ bool ]

/ bul /

noun (often initial capital letter)

elaborate inlaid work of woods, metals, tortoiseshell, ivory, etc.

Origin of buhl

1815–25; from Germanized form of French boulle or boule, named after A. C. Boulle or Boule (1642–1732), French cabinetmaker

Also called buhl·work

[bool-wurk] /ˈbulˌwɜrk/, boulework, boullework.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for boule

Loiseau had an inspiration: that they should propose to the officer to keep Boule de Suif and let the rest go.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 1 (of 8)|Guy de Maupassant
This indirect but obvious allusion to Boule De Suif shocked the gentle people.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 1 (of 8)|Guy de Maupassant
These are of German work, early eighteenth century, and have evidently been designed after Boule's productions.
Illustrated History of Furniture|Frederick Litchfield
Boule or Premire partie is a metal inlay, usually brass, applied to a tortoiseshell background.
Chats on Old Furniture|Arthur Hayden

They instantly surrounded Boule de Suif, questioning, entreating her to disclose the mystery of her visit.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 1 (of 8)|Guy de Maupassant

British Dictionary definitions for boule (1 of 4)

boule

/ (ˈbuːliː) /

noun

the parliament in modern Greece

the senate of an ancient Greek city-state

Word Origin for boule

C19: from Greek boulē senate

British Dictionary definitions for boule (2 of 4)

boule

/ (buːl) /

noun

a pear-shaped imitation ruby, sapphire, etc, made from synthetic corundum

Word Origin for boule

C19: from French: ball

British Dictionary definitions for boule (3 of 4)

boule

/ (buːl) /

noun

a round loaf of white bread

Word Origin for boule

C20: from French: a ball

British Dictionary definitions for boule (4 of 4)

buhl

/ (buːl) /

adjective, noun

the usual US spelling of boulle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012