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waltz

[wawlts]
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noun
  1. a ballroom dance, in moderately fast triple meter, in which the dancers revolve in perpetual circles, taking one step to each beat.
  2. a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance.
  3. Informal. an easy victory or accomplishment: The game was a waltz—we won by four touchdowns. The math exam was a waltz.
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adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the waltz, as music, rhythm, or dance: waltz tempo.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to dance or move in a waltz step or rhythm: an invitation to waltz.
  2. Informal.
    1. to move breezily or casually: to waltz in late for dinner.
    2. to progress easily or successfully (often followed by through): to waltz through an exam.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to lead (a partner) in dancing a waltz.
  2. Informal. to move or lead briskly and easily: He waltzed us right into the governor's office.
  3. to fill (a period of time) with waltzing (often followed by away, through, etc.): They waltzed the night away.
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Origin of waltz

1775–85; back formation from German Walzer a waltz (taken as walz + -er1), derivative of walzen to roll, dance; compare obsolete English walt unsteady, dial. walter to roll
Related formswaltz·er, nounwaltz·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for waltzer

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • A classic instance of this variety of tic is Ros., long known at Bictre as "the waltzer."

British Dictionary definitions for waltzer

waltzer

noun
  1. a person who waltzes
  2. a fairground roundabout on which people are spun round and moved up and down as it revolves about a central axis
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waltz

noun
  1. a ballroom dance in triple time in which couples spin around as they progress round the room
  2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
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verb
  1. to dance or lead (someone) in or as in a waltzhe waltzed her off her feet
  2. (intr) to move in a sprightly and self-assured manner
  3. (intr) informal to succeed easily
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Derived Formswaltzlike, adjective

Word Origin

C18: from German Walzer, from Middle High German walzen to roll; compare welter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for waltzer

waltz

v.

1794, from waltz (n.). Meaning "to move nimbly" is recorded from 1862. Related: Waltzed; waltzing.

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waltz

n.

dance performed to music in triple time, 1781, from German Waltzer, from walzen "to roll, dance," from Old High German walzan "to turn, roll," from Proto-Germanic *walt- (cf. Old Norse velta), from PIE root *wel- "to turn, revolve" (see volvox). Described in 1825 as "a riotous and indecent German dance."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper