barre

or bar

[ bahr ]
/ bɑr /

noun Ballet.

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

Origin of barre

First recorded in 1945–50

Definition for barre (2 of 2)

barré
[ bah-rey ]
/ bɑˈreɪ /

noun

Textiles. a pattern of stripes or bands of color extending across the warp in woven and knitted fabrics.
Textiles. a streak in the filling direction when one or more picks are of a color different from that of adjacent picks.
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.

Origin of barré

< French: literally, barred, past participle of barrer, derivative of barre bar1

Example sentences from the Web for barre

British Dictionary definitions for barre (1 of 2)

barre
/ French (bar) /

noun

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

Word Origin for barre

literally: bar

British Dictionary definitions for barre (2 of 2)

barré
/ (ˈbæreɪ) /

noun

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
the playing of chords in this manner

verb

to execute (chords) in this manner

adverb

by using the barré

Word Origin for barré

C19: from French, from barrer bar 1