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

Lately, I’ve noticed that whenever I leave for the dance studio, I pack two bags.

From Salon

Le Constellation, which has been around for decades, has an upstairs with TV screens where people go and watch football matches, and a large bar downstairs for drinking and dancing.

From BBC

They put me in this class where you do acting, singing, dancing.

From Los Angeles Times

Now she has danced on Strictly Come Dancing and graced the cover of Vogue.

From BBC

This is the paradox of dancing in the age of short-form video: Even as slick choreographed routines proliferate on TikTok and Instagram and YouTube, spawning mimics and viral trends, more concertgoers are standing still.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disco
• samba
• tango
• waltz