country-dance
noun
a dance of rural English origin in which the dancers form circles or squares or in which they face each other in two rows.
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country-dance
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country dance
country dancenouna type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets and perform a series of movements, esp facing one another in a line
country-dance
American
[kuhn-tree-dans, -dahns]
/ ˈkʌn triˌdæns, -ˌdɑns /
noun
country dance
British
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of country-dance
First recorded in 1570–80
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.
See Examples For:
Courses are as varied as English country-dance, the presidency and genealogy on the computer.
From Time Magazine Archive
This arrangement seemed to promise a country-dance, but when the music began, Dick found that a form of minuet was intended.
From The Road to Paris by Robert Neilson Stephens
The Miss Darnels and their partners took their places near the top of the country-dance.
From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Eliza Leslie
Contra-dance is better than country-dance, the latter word being a corruption; but it has become admissible from long use.
From Every-Day Errors of Speech by L. P. Meredith
The sun shone upon the spangled dresses of the performers, and their evolutions were about as inspiriting and appropriate as a country-dance in a family vault.
From Sketches by Boz, illustrative of everyday life and every-day people by Charles Dickens
The 16-year-old has enjoyed the country dance style since she was seven, following in the footsteps of her mum, grandmother and great-grandmother.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
The shows so far have spanned the modern desert’s full range of scenes — country dance nights, the scuzzy punk of Throw Rag, cabaret drag acts and gothic folk from Blood Nebraska.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025
Live music shall fill the cozy Ballard tavern once more when Midnight Suns kick off the bar’s Tuesday country dance night.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2021
Carolyn Harris and Jay Marsh met at a country dance in Virginia while he was finishing his Army stint.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 26, 2021
At this country dance Johnny for the first time saw Rab move suddenly into action.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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