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Synonyms

samba

American  
[sam-buh, sahm-] / ˈsæm bə, ˈsɑm- /

noun

plural

sambas
  1. a rhythmic, Brazilian ballroom dance of African origin.


verb (used without object)

sambaed, sambaing
  1. to dance the samba.

samba British  
/ ˈsæmbə /

noun

  1. a lively modern ballroom dance from Brazil in bouncy duple time

  2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

"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

verb

  1. (intr) to perform such a dance

"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

Etymology

Origin of samba

First recorded in 1885; from Portuguese, of African origin, possibly Kongo semba, the name of a dance

Vocabulary lists containing samba

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Championship Manager 01-02 edition was a goldmine for cult heroes, and Cherno Samba is arguably the most renowned.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

A few miles from the current operation, Sino-Metals is constructing the $200 million Samba copper mine inside Kafue National Park.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The maker of Gazelle and Samba trainers said it expects operating profit to rise to 2.3 billion euros for 2026, as it unveiled its annual results.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

It is a start, said Samba Yonga, the mother of Zambian teenager Chinyama.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

None of them could give Samba any news of his parents: so after remaining a day or two with them he went on alone.

From Samba A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo by Strang, Herbert