noun.
A skilled public performer or entertainer, especially a singer or dancer.
noun.
A person with artistic pretensions.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
One who is peculiarly dexterous or skilful in the practice of some art not one of the fine arts; one who makes an art of his employment, as a dancer, a hair-dresser, or a cook: same as artist, 2 and 4.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
One peculiarly dexterous and tasteful in almost any employment, as an opera dancer, a hairdresser, a cook.
noun.
a publicperformer, especially of song or dance
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
a public performer (a dancer or singer)
Word Usage
"It could not be that the grand role of the artiste is a desperately self-delusional shell around the soft and gooey centre of a very small and weak ego, all too easily hurt by even the mildest and most unconcerned critique."