pirouette

[ pir-oo-et ]

noun

1. a whirling about on one foot or on the points of the toes, as in ballet dancing.
2. Dressage. a complete turn in which the horse uses its hind legs as a pivot.

verb (used without object)

, pir·ou·et·ted, pir·ou·et·ting.

1. to perform a pirouette; whirl, as on the toes.

pirouette

/ ˌpɪrʊˈɛt /

noun

1. a body spin, esp in dancing, on the toes or the ball of the foot

verb

1. intr to perform a pirouette

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirouette¹

1700–10; < French: a whirl, top, feminine of Middle French pirouet, equivalent to pirou- (cognate with Italian pirolo, diminutive of piro peg) + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirouette¹

C18: from French, from Old French pirouet spinning top; related to Italian pirolo little peg

Example Sentences

She pirouetted and handed me a single flower.

From Los Angeles Times

A jeté flashes in silhouette, a pirouette vanishes like a whisper.

From Los Angeles Times

The rest of the ensemble also capably pirouettes from jokes to terror, led by Stevens, sporting aviators and a Queens accent as the shifty, untrustworthy Frank.

From Los Angeles Times

Like a dainty ballerina, the world's biggest iceberg has just completed a perfect pirouette.

From BBC

During so-called learning walks, the animals then explore the immediate surroundings around the nest entrance and repeatedly pirouette around their own body axis with short stops in between.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• reel
• revolve
• rotate
• spiral
• swim
• turn
• twirl
• twist
• whirl