bal ‧ lad /ˈbæləd/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: balade , from Old Provençal balada 'dance, song sung while dancing' , from balar 'to dance' , from Late Latin ballare ; ⇨ ↑ ball 1 ]
1 . a slow love song
2 . a short story in the form of a poem or song
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THESAURUS
■ types of song
▪ national anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions:
Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.
▪ hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church:
What hymns did you choose for your wedding?
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At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.
▪ carol a traditional Christmas song:
We went around the houses, singing carols.
▪ folk song a traditional song from a particular area:
an old Mexican folk song
▪ ballad a long folk song which tells a story:
a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Ireland
▪ lullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep:
She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.