DANCE Definition & Meaning

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dance

[ dans, dahns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

danced, dancing.

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)

danced, dancing.

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

/ ��ɑː�Բ� /

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 someone
to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously

noun

a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music Terpsichorean
an act of dancing
1. a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
2. ( 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

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Derived Forms

ˈ�岹�Գ��Բ�, nounadjective
ˈ�岹�Գ��𲹲��, adjective
ˈ�岹�Գ��, noun

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Other �y��vlogs From

�岹�Գ�i�Բ�·�� adverb
��t��·�岹�Գ�i�Բ� adjective
�ǳܳ�d��Գ�� verb (used with object) outdanced outdancing
�ܲ�·�岹�Գ�i�Բ� adjective
�ɱ��-�岹�Գ�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of dance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English da(u)ncen, from Anglo-French dancer, dauncer, Old French dancier, perhaps from Old High German dansjan, dansōn (unrecorded) “to draw, stretch out, lead to a dance” ( tense ¹( def ) ); noun derivative of the verb

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of dance¹

C13: from Old French dancier

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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

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Example Sentences

For the series’ Italy-set sophomore season, De Veer elevated the original theme, combining operatic vocals over a bouncy dance beat.

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Allen was usually shy, but if she was surrounded by the right people, she would sing, dance and make jokes, her family said.

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A dancer in the production happened to be Akram Khan, now a leading choreographer who has made his own large-scale dance from the Hindu epic.

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Soldiers sang and danced, their jubilation erupting as the Muslim Eid holiday began.

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But there is a humility to him that perhaps does not show in his customary startline dances for the cameras.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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