bourree: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Specialised (Music/Dance)
Quick answer
What does “bourree” mean?
A quick French dance in duple time, or the music for such a dance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A quick French dance in duple time, or the music for such a dance.
A movement within a Baroque dance suite (especially instrumental); a lively dance step often involving rapid footwork, particularly in ballet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Spelling often appears with accent (bourrée) in both varieties, but the unaccented form is also common. The term is equally specialised in both contexts.
Connotations
Connotes high culture, classical music, and ballet. In non-specialist use, may sound pretentious or overly specific.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Used almost exclusively within ballet studios, music history classes, and programme notes for classical concerts.
Grammar
How to Use “bourree” in a Sentence
The composer [included/wrote] a bourrée.The dancer [performed/executed] a bourrée.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bourree” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The corps de ballet will bourrée across the stage with astonishing precision.
American English
- She bourréed lightly from one corner of the studio to the other.
adjective
British English
- The bourrée rhythm is characteristically sprightly and in duple time.
American English
- He practiced the bourrée variation for hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology and dance history papers to describe specific musical forms or choreography.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be heard in a conversation about attending a ballet or a Baroque music concert.
Technical
Core term in ballet (e.g., 'pas de bourrée') and music theory/performance (e.g., identifying a movement in a Bach suite).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bourree”
- Misspelling: 'burrey', 'buree', 'bouree'.
- Mispronouncing as /bɔːˈriː/ or /ˈbaʊri/.
- Using it as a general term for any fast dance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Related but not identical. 'Bourrée' is the name of the dance/style. 'Pas de bourrée' is a specific, quick stepping sequence used in ballet, named after the dance.
In British English, it's often /ˈbʊəreɪ/ (BOOR-ay). In American English, it's often /bʊˈreɪ/ (boor-AY). The final 'ée' is pronounced like 'ay'.
Yes, but rarely outside of dance contexts (e.g., 'She bourréed across the floor'). The infinitive would be 'to bourrée'.
No. It is a highly specialised term from the worlds of classical music and ballet. The average English speaker would not know or use this word.
A quick French dance in duple time, or the music for such a dance.
Bourree is usually formal, specialised (music/dance) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common usage.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BOO-ray!' – the sound you might exclaim when you see the quick, lively steps of this dance.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIVELY ACTIVITY IS A BOURREE (e.g., 'The meeting was a bourrée of new ideas' – a rare, creative use).
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the word 'bourrée'?