ballad
[ bal-uh d ]
/ ˈbæl əd /
noun
any light, simple song, especially one of sentimental or romantic character, having two or more stanzas all sung to the same melody.
a simple narrative poem of folk origin, composed in short stanzas and adapted for singing.
any poem written in similar style.
the music for a ballad.
a sentimental or romantic popular song.
Origin of ballad
OTHER WORDS FROM ballad
bal·lad·ic [buh-lad-ik] /bəˈlæd ɪk/, adjective bal·lad·like, adjectiveWords nearby ballad
Example sentences from the Web for ballad
British Dictionary definitions for ballad
ballad
/ (ˈbæləd) /
noun
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
a narrative poem in short stanzas of popular origin, originally sung to a repeated tune
a slow sentimental song, esp a pop song
Word Origin for ballad
C15: from Old French
balade, from Old Provençal
balada song accompanying a dance, from
balar to dance, from Late Latin
ballāre; see
ball ²
Cultural definitions for ballad (1 of 2)
ballad
A simple narrative song, or a narrative poem suitable for singing. The ballad usually has a short stanza, such as:
There are twelve months in all the year,
As I hear many men say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.
Cultural definitions for ballad (2 of 2)
ballad
A simple narrative song, or, alternatively, a narrative poem suitable for singing. (See under “Conventions of Written English.”)