/bælˈɑːd/ Bahl-AYD

Definitions

1. noun

A type of narrative poem, typically with a musical quality and a specific structure, often with stanzas and a refrain.

“The poet’s latest ballade was a masterpiece of storytelling and lyrical language.”

2. noun

A type of medieval French poem, often with a narrative or allegorical theme.

“The scholar studied the ballades of medieval French literature.”

3. noun

A type of poem that tells a story in verse, often with a musical quality.

“The poet wrote a ballade about a romantic encounter in the countryside.”