bayadere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal/Literary/Technical (fashion)
Quick answer
What does “bayadere” mean?
A Hindu dancing girl, especially one performing in a temple.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Hindu dancing girl, especially one performing in a temple.
A fabric with horizontal stripes of contrasting colors, or a garment made from such fabric; by extension, any design featuring bold, horizontal stripes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The fashion/textile term is used in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the 'dancer' sense carries exotic, historical, or Orientalist connotations. The 'fabric' sense is a technical term in fashion.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions. Slightly more likely to appear in British writing due to historical colonial connections.
Grammar
How to Use “bayadere” in a Sentence
[fabric/design] made in bayadere[garment] of bayadere silkdressed as a bayadereVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bayadere” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The designer showcased a stunning bayadere sash.
- She preferred the bayadere pattern to plain silks.
American English
- The dress featured a bold bayadere stripe.
- He bought a bayadere-print tie for the event.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in textile import/export or fashion retail describing a fabric type.
Academic
Found in historical, cultural studies, or fashion history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in fashion and textile design to describe a specific stripe pattern.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bayadere”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bayadere”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bayadere”
- Misspelling: 'bayader', 'baiadere'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈbeɪədɪə/).
- Using it as a general term for any dancer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency word. You are most likely to encounter it in specialized contexts like fashion writing or historical texts.
It comes from the Portuguese 'bailadeira' (dancer), which itself derived from the Latin 'ballare' (to dance). It entered English via French in the 18th century, reflecting European contact with Indian culture.
Yes, particularly in fashion contexts. It can describe a fabric, pattern, or garment featuring the characteristic bold, horizontal stripes (e.g., 'a bayadere scarf').
Both can refer to temple dancers in India. 'Bayadere' is the term used historically in European contexts, often with exoticised connotations. 'Devadasi' is the more specific, traditional Sanskrit-derived term for the religious practice.
A Hindu dancing girl, especially one performing in a temple.
Bayadere is usually formal/literary/technical (fashion) in register.
Bayadere: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːjəˈdɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪəˈdɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BAYA'DERE' dances in the 'BAZAAR' wearing bold 'STRIPES'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXOTIC CULTURE IS A SOURCE OF DECORATIVE PATTERN (The cultural role of the dancer is metaphorically transferred to the pattern named after her).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern fashion context, 'bayadere' most precisely refers to: