/ ˈbæleɪ; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] a style of dancing that tells a dramatic story with music but no talking or singing :
She wants to be a ballet dancer .
ballet shoes
2.
[ C ] a story or work of art performed by a group of ballet dancers :
'Swan Lake' is one of the great classical ballets.
3.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of dancers who work and perform ballet together :
members of the Royal Ballet
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French , from Italian balletto , diminutive of ballo dance, from late Latin ballare to dance; related to Greek ballizein to dance.