noun
pirouette
pih-ruu-EHT
Pirouette (noun) means a full spin performed on the toes or ball of the foot, especially in ballet. Example: “The dancer completed three perfect pirouettes to close the routine.”
noun
1
A full spin performed on the toes or ball of the foot, especially in ballet.
"The dancer completed three perfect pirouettes to close the routine."
verb
1
To spin on one's toes like a ballet dancer.
"She pirouetted gracefully across the stage."
"I came down like a sack of coals. The pulse was rapid, the blood pressure high, and for awhile the Blue Room pirouetted about me like an adagio dancer."
— Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1960)
How to use pirouette
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spinning turn on the toes, most associated with ballet.
Common pairings
perform a pirouette
pirouette across the stage
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Word forms
- Plural
- pirouettes
- Third person singular
- pirouettes
- Past tense
- pirouetted
Fill the gap
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The dancer completed three perfect _____ to close the routine.
Etymology
Borrowed from French pirouette, in use in English since around 1706.
Class of 1706
pirouette joined the language around 1706.
See the full Class of 1706 →
Rhymes for pirouette
See all rhymes for pirouette →Frequently asked questions
What does “pirouette” mean?
The word “pirouette” means a full spin performed on the toes or ball of the foot, especially in ballet. In plain terms, a spinning turn on the toes, most associated with ballet.
How do you pronounce “pirouette”?
“Pirouette” is pronounced pih-ruu-EHT (/ˌpɪ.ɹəˈwɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “pirouette” in a sentence?
Here is “pirouette” used in a sentence: “The dancer completed three perfect pirouettes to close the routine.”
What part of speech is “pirouette”?
Depending on how it is used, “pirouette” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pirouette” come from?
The word “pirouette” dates back to around 1706 and comes from French. Borrowed from French pirouette, in use in English since around 1706.
How many meanings does “pirouette” have?
“Pirouette” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a full spin performed on the toes or ball of the foot, especially in ballet.
