Definitions for aplomb
əˈplɒm, əˈplʌmaplomb

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. aplomb, assuredness, cool, poise, sang-froidnoun

   great coolness and composure under strain

   "keep your cool"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. aplombnoun

   self-confidence; poise; composure.

   His nonchalance and aplomb during hard times have always been his best character trait.

2. aplombnoun

   stability; the basic law of ballet.

3. Etymology: Borrowed from

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Aplombnoun

   assurance of manner or of action; self-possession

2. Etymology: [F., lit. perpendicularity; to + plomb lead. See Plumb.]

FreebaseRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Aplomb

   In classical ballet, aplomb refers to the basic law of ballet – stability. The French ballet master Jean-Étienne Despréaux defined it in 1806 as a specific kind of dynamic balance fundamental to all positions and movements of ballet. A 1905 book Grammar of the Art of Dancing, Theoretical and Practical referring to Bernhard Klemm, wrote: "Aplomb is the absolute safety in rising and falling back which results from the perpendicular attitude of the upper body and the artistic placing of the feet. By means of aplomb the dancer acquires a precision and an elegance which insure the successful execution of every foot-movement, however artistic and difficult, and thereby creates a pleasing and a satisfactory impression upon the observer. Aplomb may be compared with the sureness of touch of the pianist." Aplomb is achieved with straight body with its weight equally distributed over the supporting foot. Aplomb is controlled by feeling and controlling the muscular sensations in the spine, i.e., by "holding the back". The base of aplomb are the five positions of the feet codified by Pierre Beauchamp in 1680. The correct set of the body influences all ballet steps, and the perfection of the aplomb requires years of training. Exercises at the barre begin the training of the stability and balance.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Aplomb

   a-plom′, n. the perpendicular, perpendicularity: self-possession, coolness. [Fr. aplomb, perpendicular position—à plomb, according to plummet.]

Matched Categories

1. • Composure

How to pronounce aplomb?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say aplomb in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of aplomb in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of aplomb in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of aplomb in a Sentence

1. The American stand-up comedienne:

   Definitely whatever you think of it, it's a conversation. You walk out of there talking to your friends about mental illness, about depression, about what deserves empathy, what deserves sympathy, you might walk away having nothing but disdain for this woman. People have harder childhoods than she had and persevere through them with aplomb but it's not a competition. (For) this woman, life is hard for her.

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