noun

la bille

marble

Petit objet rond, souvent en verre ou en plastique, que les enfants utilisent pour jouer.

Word: bille

Language: French


Meaning in English

The French word "bille" primarily means:

  1. Marble (small glass ball):
    A "bille" is a small, round glass ball used by children to play the traditional game of marbles.

  2. Log (wood):
    In a more technical or industrial context, "bille" can also refer to a log or a billet, which is a piece of wood cut from a tree.


Breakdown and Explanation

  • Origin:
    The term "bille" comes from Old French, linked with shape or small round objects.

  • Pronunciation:
    Pronounced as [bil].

  • Parts:
    No separable parts as it's a single noun.


Synonyms

  1. For marble (toy):

    • bille de verre (glass marble)
    • jouet (toy, more general)
  2. For log (wood):

    • tronçon (section or piece of log)
    • bûche (log, typically a firewood log)
    • bouleau (actually a birch tree, related but not quite synonymous)

Antonyms

There are no direct antonyms for "bille" since it denotes a specific object. However, considering the context:

  • If "bille" refers to a marble (toy), the antonym might be something that is not round or not solid.

  • If "bille" refers to wood log, antonyms could be chips or sawdust, smaller fragments rather than a solid piece.


Additional Notes

  • The plural form is "billes".
  • "Billes" as a plural is quite common in contexts related to children's games or forestry.

Summary

French wordMeaningSynonymsContext
billeMarble (small glass ball)bille de verreChildren's game
billeLog (wood piece)tronçon, bûcheForestry, woodwork

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Examples

Je joue avec une bille bleue.noun

I am playing with a blue marble.

Les enfants ont perdu leurs billes dans la cour.noun

The children lost their marbles in the yard.

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