belle

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belle

the most popular woman among many: She was the belle of the ball.

Not to be confused with:

bell – a hollow instrument that is rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, etc.: She rang a bell to summon her servants.

belle

(bĕl)

A popular, attractive girl or woman, especially the most attractive one of a group: the belle of the ball.

[French, beautiful, belle, from Latin bella, feminine of bellus; see deu- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

belle

(bɛl)

1. a beautiful girl or woman

2. the most attractive or admired girl or woman at a place, function, etc (esp in the phrase the belle of the ball)

[C17: from French, feminine of beau]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

belle

(bɛl)

n.

a woman or girl much admired for her beauty and charm: the belle of the ball.

[1615–25;< French; Old French bele < Latin bella, feminine of bellus fine, good-looking. See beau]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

belle - a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals; "she was the belle of the ball"

fille, girl, miss, missy, young lady, young woman - a young woman; "a young lady of 18"

belle

noun beauty, looker (informal), lovely, good-looker, goddess, Venus, peach (informal), cracker (informal), stunner (informal), charmer She was the belle of her Sunday school class.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

belle

noun

A person regarded as physically attractive.Used of a woman:

beauty, lovely, stunner.

Slang: babe, doll, hunk (used of a man), knockout, looker, stud (used of a man).

Translations

Schönheit

belle

[bel] N the belle of the ball → la reina del baile

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

belle

n → Schöne f, → Schönheit f; the belle of the ball → die Ballkönigin

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in classic literature ?

BELLE CARPENTER had a dark skin, grey eyes, and thick lips.

When she was a young girl Henry Carpenter made life almost unbearable for Belle, but as she emerged from girlhood into womanhood he lost his power over her.

Belle Carpenter occasionally walked out in the evening with George Willard.

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No one said a word about it, but Sallie offered to dress her hair, and Annie to tie her sash, and Belle, the engaged sister, praised her white arms.

"It's for Belle, of course, George always sends her some, but these are altogether ravishing," cried Annie, with a great sniff.

All this surprised and flattered her, though she did not understand it till Miss Belle looked up from her writing, and said, with a sentimental air...

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It was at this juncture that Clara Belle and Susan Simpson consulted Rebecca, who threw herself solidly and wholeheartedly into the enterprise, promising her help and that of Emma Jane Perkins.

Clara Belle was rather a successful agent, but Susan, who could only say "thoap," never made large returns, and the twins, who were somewhat young to be thoroughly trustworthy, could be given only a half dozen cakes at a time, and were obliged to carry with them on their business trips a brief document stating the price per cake, dozen, and box.

Watson's store, and arranged for several large boxes of soap to be charged to Clara Belle Simpson's account.

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Polly had nothing to say to lively Miss Belle; but Fanny observed, "I like to read about such things; but it 's so inconvenient to have it happen right here, because it makes it harder for us.

The younger girls walked up and down the court, arm in arm, eating bread an butter; others stayed in the school-room to read and gossip; but Belle, Trix, and Fanny went to lunch at a fashionable ice-cream saloon near by, and Polly meekly followed, not daring to hint at the ginger-bread grandma had put in her pocket for luncheon.

We all go to the afternoon concerts, and have a gay time, and Belle and Trix are to be there to-day; so just keep quiet, and everything will be all right."