ballad

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈbæləd/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A narrative poem or song, typically of folk origin, that tells a story in short stanzas.; A slow, sentimental popular song, often about love.; A simple, lyrical poem suitable for singing.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: ballads 3rd sing.: ballads Past: balladed Past part.: balladed Pres part.: ballading

Collocations

folk balladlove balladmurder balladbroadside balladsing a balladtraditional ballad

Derivatives

balladeerballadry

Synonyms

songlaydittynarrative poemhymn

Commonly confused

ballade
EN: 'Ballade' is a specific French poetic or musical form (e.g., Chopin's ballades); 'ballad' is a narrative song or poem.
balladeer
EN: 'Balladeer' is the person who sings or composes ballads; 'ballad' is the song or poem itself.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'ballad' has double 'l' and a single 'd'. Do not confuse it with 'ballade' (a different word with a final 'e').

💬 Examples

  1. The old ballad told the tale of a sailor lost at sea.

  2. The band ended the concert with a beautiful ballad that brought the audience to tears.

  3. Keats wrote several ballads during his short but prolific career.