SKIP TO CONTENT

bolero

/bəˈlɛroʊ/
/bəˈlɛɾəʊ/
IPA guide

Other forms: boleros

A bolero is a type of quick, lively Spanish dance. It's also a short jacket worn mainly by women.

You could dance a bolero in a bolero, because this word refers to both clothes and music. The kind of bolero you wear is a short jacket that just about comes down to the waist. A bolero is most often worn by women: except in Spain, where men wear it too. The dance is a quick-paced type of music that you could do to Ravel's famous piece, also called Bolero. Both the music and the jacket come from Spain.

Definitions of bolero
  1. noun
    a Spanish dance in triple time accompanied by guitar and castanets
    see moresee less
    type of:
    choreography, stage dancing
    a show involving artistic dancing
  2. noun
    music written in the rhythm of the bolero dance
    see moresee less
    type of:
    dance music
    music to dance to
  3. noun
    a short jacket; worn mostly by women
    see moresee less
    type of:
    jacket
    a short coat
Pronunciation
US
/bəˈlɛroʊ/
UK
/bəˈlɛɾəʊ/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘bolero'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family