pirouette

noun

pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet How to pronounce pirouette (audio)
: a rapid whirling about of the body
especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
pirouette intransitive verb

Examples of pirouette in a Sentence

the elegant pirouettes of the prima ballerina the ballerina's perfectly executed pirouette
Recent Examples on the Web After Zens was exercised through eight-foot seas, more genteel conditions were enjoyed behind the harbor seawall, finessing pirouettes in the calm water with the joystick before the boat glided nimbly to the dock. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2024 The virtuoso Roman Mejia is ever the dashing hero, topping off pirouettes and twisting leaps with poses of flexed arms and fists. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024 Illuminated by the headlights of a Cadillac, the actor pirouettes and high kicks in a gauzy white dress, performing for a viewer that is slowly revealed to be Jack Antonoff himself. Liam Hess, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2024 Some will label a pirouette a Zidane turn; others might attribute it to Diego Maradona. Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 The most recognizable, these days, is the iPad pirouette, evoking an upturned palm. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023 Each evening, the channel separating the islands of Manda and Lamu is anointed in a hazy veil of golden light as dhows pirouette in the water, triangle sails billowing overhead. Sarah Khan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023 His is an aphoristic imagination, and almost every chapter ends with a revelatory pirouette. Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 Two other colleagues staged an impromptu dance-off, trading pirouettes and arabesques. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pirouette.' 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, literally, teetotum

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pirouette was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near pirouette

Cite this Entry

“Pirouette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pirouette. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pirouette

noun
pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet How to pronounce pirouette (audio)
: a rapid whirling of the body
especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
pirouette verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pirouette

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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