bolero

noun bo·le·ro \ bə-ˈler-(ˌ)ō , -ˈle-rō \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Definition of bolero

plural boleros

1 : a Spanish dance characterized by sharp turns, stamping of the feet, and sudden pauses in a position with one arm arched over the head; also : music in ³/₄ time for a bolero

2 : a loose waist-length jacket open at the front

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Recent Examples of bolero from the Web

Russian-style knicker pants – some created by tucking full pants into knee-hi boots or worn with a white shirt, bolero ties and cape hit the decade of excess era on the nail.

— roxanne robinson, The Hollywood Reporter, "Alexandre Vauthier Shows "Super Parisian" Couture Collection," 3 July 2018
Thick fabrics reminiscent of post-World War II styles were used evocatively in a midnight blue cape coat and a three-piece ensemble with a fringed spiral-sleeve bolero.

— thomas adamson, The Seattle Times, "Dior celebrates the atelier, draws celebs to Paris couture," 2 July 2018
Gladys Palmera is the alter-ego of Alejandra Fierro Eleta, who bought her first albums in the 1980s, and was soon sharing her love for Afro-Cuban music, Mexican boleros and tropical soul via a pioneering Latin music radio show in her native Spain.

— judy cantor-navas, Billboard, "Latin Legacy: Digital Digging in the Gladys Palmera Collection," 22 May 2018
This bejeweled bolero looks great on Ross, who wore it over a draped black dress.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "I Love the Vanity Fair Oscars After-Party!," 5 Mar. 2018
There were the rhythms of tango and bolero and cumbia.

— a.d. amorosi, Philly.com, "Juanes is a massive rock star in Latin America. Now, he's coming to Philadelphia," 23 Apr. 2018
The gentlest piece, the title track, is a bolero whose arrangement holds aloft ribbons of melody from Mr. Threadgill’s alto saxophone that sound like pleas.

— larry blumenfeld, WSJ, "‘Back to the Sunset’ Review: A Cuban Drummer Realizes His Grandest Dream," 2 Apr. 2018
The founder of one of the oldest musical acts here, Rodríguez croons boleros and lyrical anthems that at times quicken the heart and at others create a daydreamy lull.

— author: arelis r. hernandez, Anchorage Daily News, "Exodus from Puerto Rico grows as island struggles to rebound from Hurricane Maria," 7 Mar. 2018
Miramar — with lead singers from Puerto Rico and Tennessee and a Chilean-American keyboardist and composer — devoted itself to urbanely lovelorn Puerto Rican-style boleros, some vintage and some written by group members.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "Review: Globalfest’s World Music for a Connected World," 15 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bolero.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.