: a bending of the knees outward by a ballet dancer with the back held straight

Examples of plié in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Move to the beat of hip hop, sway your hips to Latin music or plie to ballet. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022 A plie, arms in first position, followed by delicate steps to the side. Kaitlyn Schwers, kansascity.com, 26 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plié.' 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

borrowed from French, noun derivative from past participle of plier "to fold, bend," going back to Middle & Old French pleier, ploier, plier — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plié was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near plié

Cite this Entry

“Plié.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pli%C3%A9. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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