ballad
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a slow, emotional song, usually about love.
a slow, sentimental popular song, typically focusing on romantic or emotional themes.
Simple“The singer performed a beautiful ballad that made many people in the audience cry.”
In context“The album features several high-energy tracks, but it concludes with a hauntingly beautiful piano ballad about lost love.”
Synonymslove songslow song - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a poem or song that tells a story in short sections.
a narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
Simple“The teacher asked us to write a ballad about a famous historical event.”
In context“The collection includes traditional Scottish ballads that have been passed down through oral tradition for centuries.”
Synonymsnarrative poemfolk song
“Few artists do a big old ballad climax quite like Dion – and Because You Loved Me is the perfect example.”
From French ballade, from Old Occitan ballada (“poem for a dance”), from Late Latin ballare. Doublet of ballade.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.