barre

¹

or bar

[ bahr ]

noun

, Ballet.

1. a handrail placed at hip height, used by a dancer to maintain balance during practice.

barré

²

[ bah-rey ]

noun

1. Textiles. a pattern of stripes or bands of color extending across the warp in woven and knitted fabrics.
2. Textiles. a streak in the filling direction when one or more picks are of a color different from that of adjacent picks.
3. Music. a technique of playing a chord on a stringed instrument by laying a finger across the strings at a particular fret, raising their pitch.

barre

¹

/ bar /

noun

1. a rail at hip height used for ballet practice and leg exercises

barré

²

/ ˈbæreɪ /

noun

1. the act of laying the index finger over some or all of the strings of a guitar, lute, or similar instrument, so that the pitch of each stopped string is simultaneously raised Compare capo 1
2. the playing of chords in this manner

verb

1. to execute (chords) in this manner

adverb

1. by using the barré

Word History and Origins

Origin of barre¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Origin of barre²

< French: literally, barred, past participle of barrer, derivative of barre bar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of barre¹

literally: bar

Origin of barre²

C19: from French, from barrer bar ¹

Example Sentences

Increased interest has pushed Westside Ballet to add 12 more adult dance classes to its schedule, including ballet, pointe instruction, jazz, ballroom, floor barre and theater jazz.

From Los Angeles Times

If asked about their families, it might be on the record that Lydia’s softball-playing sister, Delores, loved watching her sibling at the barre.

From New York Times

"Last one to the barre is a rotten egg!"

From Literature

On the second floor, plaster children practice at the barre, dancers rest, bow and stretch alongside floor-to-ceiling columns composed of pink tutus and piles of “dead” toe shoes.

From New York Times

Halfway through barre we do rond de jambes — an exercise in which you paint half circles on the floor with your toes.

From New York Times