barre

noun

1
plural barres : a handrail used by ballet dancers to maintain balance while exercising : bar sense 1c
He would work at an accelerated tempo at the barre to build up his strength, and learn to "feel the floor" with his toes to increase the elasticity of his elevation.Julie Kavanagh
2
: an exercise regimen that typically utilizes a ballet bar and movements taken from or influenced by ballet training
Barre is also low impact and has a built-in handhold, making it a relatively safe form of exercise.Markham Heid
Did I mention that every barre class I have ever gone to includes squats? Lots of squats.Kathleen Trotter

Examples of barre in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hotel also features a full-service spa, a large pool deck and cabanas, wellness programs which include outdoor yoga and barre classes, and three on-site dining destinations. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 But the experts say barre offers weight management benefits beyond burning calories alone. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024 Additionally, the straps are thick and comfortable enough to be worn for multiple activities such as pilates and barre. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 2 Jan. 2024 Offering mid-level support, this bra can be a go-to for yoga, pilates, barre, or, depending on your cup size, even a spin or HIIT class. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2023 To overcome that obstacle, Vivian installed a ballet barre in their home and hired an experienced dancer to teach her. Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 The rest of the 45-minute class is spent at the barre, where the women continue to use small movements that grow harder with each repetition. By Chloe Herring, Brooke Henderson and Samantha J. Gross, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The Bar Method Twenty women stand parallel to a ballet barre in a second-floor studio in South Miami. By Chloe Herring, Brooke Henderson and Samantha J. Gross, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 This includes workouts such as yoga, pilates, or barre classes. Lauryn Higgins, Health, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barre.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin barra

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barre was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near barre

Cite this Entry

“Barre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barre. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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