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dance
[ dans, dahns ]
verb (used without object)
- to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.
- to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly:
to dance with joy.
Synonyms: , , , ,
- to bob up and down:
The toy sailboats danced on the pond.
verb (used with object)
- to perform or take part in (a dance):
to dance a waltz.
- to cause to dance:
He danced her around the ballroom.
- to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing:
She danced her way to stardom.
noun
- a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
- an act or round of dancing; set:
May I have this dance?
- the art of dancing:
to study dance.
- a social gathering or party for dancing; ball:
Was he invited to the dance?
- a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing:
He liked the composer's country dances.
- Animal Behavior. a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.
- the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.
dance
/ ɑːԲ /
verb
- intr to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
- tr to perform (a particular dance)
- intr to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
- to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
- dance attendance on someoneto attend someone solicitously or obsequiously
noun
- a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music Terpsichorean
- an act of dancing
- a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
- ( as modifier )
a dance hall
- a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
- short for dance music
- dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
- lead someone a dance informal.to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up
Derived Forms
- ˈ岹ԳԲ, nounadjective
- ˈ岹Գ, adjective
- ˈ岹Գ, noun
Other Word Forms
- 岹ԳiԲ· adverb
- t·岹ԳiԲ adjective
- dzܳdԳ verb (used with object) outdanced outdancing
- ܲ·岹ԳiԲ adjective
- ɱ-岹Գ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of dance1
Word History and Origins
Origin of dance1
Idioms and Phrases
- dance on air, Slang. to be hanged.
- dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.
- dance attendance. attendance ( def 3 ).
More idioms and phrases containing dance
- lead a chase (dance)
- song and dance
Example Sentences
Though she placed eighth, the performer — who came out as trans in 2016 — earned a reputation for her humor and energetic dance moves.
Sheena Gough is 89 years old but she can easily lift her leg on to a ballet barre to demonstrate elegant dance moves to her class.
Leave it to dance provocateur Mark Morris to show a way forward for the national arts center.
Two dads whose daughters were killed at a dance class in Southport last year have told the BBC how their children will be with them in spirit as they run the London Marathon.
“Creative, athletic and wise beyond her years, Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth,” her loved ones wrote.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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