belle

¹

[ bel ]

noun

1. a woman or girl admired for her beauty and charm.
2. the most beautiful, charming, or engaging woman or girl among a number:

   the belle of the ball.

Belle

²

[ bel ]

noun

1. a first name, form of Bella.

belle

/ bɛl /

noun

1. a beautiful girl or woman
2. the most attractive or admired girl or woman at a place, function, etc (esp in the phrase the belle of the ball )

Word History and Origins

Origin of belle¹

1615–25; < French; Old French bele < Latin bella, feminine of bellus fine, good-looking. See beau

Word History and Origins

Origin of belle¹

C17: from French, feminine of beau

Example Sentences

He’s charismatic enough, empathetic enough and wise enough that he could be the belle of the ball next Christmas and make everybody feel like a million bucks.

From Los Angeles Times

An hour later in a slightly sweaty hotel ballroom bedecked with “Unionize California” signs, Friedman was being treated like the belle of the ball at the California Labor Federation’s annual awards dinner.

From Los Angeles Times

Frannie, my maternal-grandmother and true Southern belle that she was, made rhubarb famous in my family, not only because of how much she loved Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie but because of the way she said it.

From Salon

Later, he asked his belle of the stairwell how she might have reacted if he had asked her to marry him.

From Los Angeles Times

It wasn't that long ago that Moms for Liberty were the belles of the Republican ball.

From Salon