Word
belle
Phoneticsbelle
US/ˈbɛɫ/
UK/bˈɛl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very attractive woman, especially the most beautiful one at a social event.
n. a beautiful woman, frequently used in the context of a social gathering to identify the most popular or attractive female guest.
Examples
“She was the belle of the ball in her red dress.”
“As the guest of honor, she was the undisputed belle of the evening, drawing everyone's attention.”
“In nineteenth-century literature, the protagonist is often depicted as a local belle whose social standing is elevated by her remarkable grace and physical beauty.”
Examples
simple
“She was the belle of the ball in her red dress.”
contextual
“As the guest of honor, she was the undisputed belle of the evening, drawing everyone's attention.”
complex
“In nineteenth-century literature, the protagonist is often depicted as a local belle whose social standing is elevated by her remarkable grace and physical beauty.”
Usage
Frequently appears in the idiomatic expression 'the belle of the ball'.
Real-World Examples
“The Independent , external critic Jonathan Brown gave the show a five-star review and praised Bawden's "brilliant all round portrayal" of the street urchin-turned-society belle.” Etymology
From French belle (“beauty, beautiful”), from Latin bella.
Diminutive of Isabelle and Annabelle.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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