barre

noun

1
plural barres : a handrail used by ballet dancers to maintain balance while exercising : bar sense 1c
He would work at an accelerated tempo at the barre to build up his strength, and learn to "feel the floor" with his toes to increase the elasticity of his elevation.Julie Kavanagh
2
: an exercise regimen that typically utilizes a ballet bar and movements taken from or influenced by ballet training
Barre is also low impact and has a built-in handhold, making it a relatively safe form of exercise.Markham Heid
Did I mention that every barre class I have ever gone to includes squats? Lots of squats.Kathleen Trotter

Examples of barre in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This lightweight athletic top is designed for workouts like yoga, pilates, or barre, and won’t feel constricting. Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024 On top of that, her training included Pilates, barre, and cycling. Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024 Its black stirrup pants are made from the softest jersey, and can just as easily be paired with a blazer and kitten heels for a night out, as an early morning barre class. Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2024 On a Tuesday in September, Mary Ruble walked up to the barre of the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica for a 7:45 a.m. ballet class, joining about 30 women of all different ages. Alexis Landau, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for barre 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin barra

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barre was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near barre

Cite this Entry

“Barre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barre. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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