brise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised / Technical
Quick answer
What does “brise” mean?
A jump or leap in fencing, specifically a quick, one-footed leap backwards.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A jump or leap in fencing, specifically a quick, one-footed leap backwards.
In classical ballet, a small, beating jump sideways from one foot to the other.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Usage is identical and confined to specialist contexts (fencing and ballet).
Connotations
Precision, agility, technical skill.
Frequency
Exceptionally rare outside of technical manuals, specialist instruction, or historical texts on fencing or dance.
Grammar
How to Use “brise” in a Sentence
The fencer performed a brise.The exercise began with a brise volé.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb in English.
American English
- Not used as a verb in English.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb in English.
American English
- Not used as an adverb in English.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective in English.
American English
- Not used as an adjective in English.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Found only in scholarly works on dance history, choreography, or historical European martial arts.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
The only context of use. Used in fencing and ballet instruction, choreographic notation, and related literature.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brise”
- Pronouncing it /braɪz/ (like 'prize').
- Using it as a general term for any jump.
- Assuming it is a common English word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly technical loanword used only in the specialised fields of fencing and classical ballet.
It is pronounced /briːz/, to rhyme with 'please' or 'breeze'.
No, in English it is used exclusively as a noun (e.g., 'perform a brise'). The related French verb 'briser' is not used in this technical sense in English.
In fencing, it is specifically a quick, defensive leap backwards. In ballet, it is a small, travelling, beating jump to the side.
A jump or leap in fencing, specifically a quick, one-footed leap backwards.
Brise is usually specialised / technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BREEZE lifting a dancer or fencer into a quick, light leap – that's a BRISE.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS FLIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In which contexts is the word 'brise' correctly used?