dance

American  

[dans, dahns] / dæns, dɑns /

verb (used without object)

danced, dancing

1. to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.

2. to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly.

   to dance with joy.

   Synonyms:

   prance, gambol, frolic, caper, cavort

3. to bob up and down.

   The toy sailboats danced on the pond.

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verb (used with object)

danced, dancing

1. to perform or take part in (a dance).

   to dance a waltz.

2. to cause to dance.

   He danced her around the ballroom.

3. to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing.

   She danced her way to stardom.

noun

1. a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.

2. an act or round of dancing; set.

   May I have this dance?

3. the art of dancing.

   to study dance.

4. a social gathering or party for dancing; ball.

   Was he invited to the dance?

5. a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing.

   He liked the composer's country dances.

6. 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.

7. the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.

idioms

1. dance attendance. attendance.

2. dance on air, to be hanged.

3. dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.

dance British  

/ dɑːns /

verb

1. (intr) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music

2. (tr) to perform (a particular dance)

3. (intr) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc

4. to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way

5. to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously

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noun

1. a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music

2. an act of dancing

3. 1. a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball

   2. ( as modifier )

      a dance hall

4. a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz

5. short for dance music

6. dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern

7. informal to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up

dance More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing dance

• lead a chase (dance)
• song and dance

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Other Word Forms

• antidancing adjective
• danceable adjective
• dancer noun
• dancing noun
• dancingly adverb
• outdance verb (used with object)
• undancing adjective
• well-danced adjective

Etymology

Origin of dance

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

Example Sentences

And they will continue with live music and dancing at Vic Galloway's Vitamin C club night at the Assembly Rooms.

From BBC

She dances barefoot in a trance, her skin glowing with sweat, with her hair worn wild and loose.

From BBC

But it looks to be equally about her personality - the trailer shows her doing everything from battling bad guys to dancing beneath a glitterball.

From BBC

Aurora Borealis, as the green lights dancing across the sky are known formally, are caused by charged sun particles interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, which is most intense at the poles.

From The Wall Street Journal

They ended the festive special with their "keep dancing!" catchphrase, with Winkleman saying the audience watching over the years had "meant a world to us".

From BBC

Related Words

• disco
• samba
• tango
• waltz