dance
to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.
to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly: to dance with joy.
to bob up and down: The toy sailboats danced on the pond.
to perform or take part in (a dance): to dance a waltz.
to cause to dance: He danced her around the ballroom.
to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing: She danced her way to stardom.
a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
an act or round of dancing; set: May I have this dance?
the art of dancing: to study dance.
a social gathering or party for dancing; ball: Was he invited to the dance?
a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing: He liked the composer's country dances.
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.
the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.
Idioms about dance
dance attendance. attendance (def. 3).
dance on air, Slang. to be hanged.
dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.
Origin of dance
1Other words for dance
Other words from dance
- danc·ing·ly, adverb
- an·ti·danc·ing, adjective
- outdance, verb (used with object), out·danced, out·danc·ing.
- un·danc·ing, adjective
- well-danced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dance in a sentence
Think of a folk dance where people change partners, says Manas-Zloczower.
How to recycle ‘nonrecyclable’ plastics | Kathiann Kowalski | October 2, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThe app, majority-owned by investor Proxima Media, gives users editing tools and video filters to make short videos of their dance challenges and comedy skits.
These 5 apps are up-and-comers with Gen Z, report says | Danielle Abril | September 23, 2020 | FortuneThey enjoy just a brief dance of death lasting perhaps hundreds of nanoseconds.
The exotic ‘atom’ positronium surprises scientists | Emily Conover | September 23, 2020 | Science News For StudentsKara Billington, a 16-year-old TikTok user from Richardson, Texas, says users of Instagram, and therefore Reels, seem to skew a little older, meaning fewer dance challenges.
Instagram’s would-be TikTok killer, Reels, struggles to gain traction | Danielle Abril | September 22, 2020 | FortuneInstead, as proof of the appeal of Reels, it pointed to several high-profile influencers who are using the service to make videos focused on food, beauty, and dance.
Instagram’s would-be TikTok killer, Reels, struggles to gain traction | Danielle Abril | September 22, 2020 | Fortune
There is one time, however, when couple dancing is in high demand, and that is around weddings.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread | IranWire | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI ask Atefeh and Monir if they see dancing as a form of income in the future, a potential career.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread | IranWire | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHer very first performance onstage came at the age of 4, when she cameoed as a dancing flower in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom | Marlow Stern | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd so it was that the federal government did not shut down just when we all had visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our heads.
Pakistan was dancing for the U.S. dollar and joined up with it without any dignity.
Pakistani School Killers Want to Strike the U.S. | Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe storm, however, was over; the moon and stars were shining in a clear sky, and the aurora was dancing merrily.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneThis slaughter is accompanied by the tabagie and what follows it—namely, the singing and dancing.
Then there was dancing and singing under the palm-trees by old and young, and when evening came there were displays of fireworks.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton WadeHe had taken an immediate fancy to Isabel and promised to show her the lower rooms as soon as she tired of dancing.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonLooking through this hole, the king perceived an old man weeping, a man in mourning garb singing, and a nun or widow dancing.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
British Dictionary definitions for dance
/ (dɑːns) /
(intr) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
(tr) to perform (a particular dance)
(intr) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
dance attendance on someone to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously
a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music: Related adjective: Terpsichorean
an act of dancing
a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
(as modifier): a dance hall
a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
short for dance music (def. 2)
dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
lead someone a dance British informal to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up
Origin of dance
1Derived forms of dance
- danceable, adjective
- dancer, noun
- dancing, noun, adjective
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with dance
In addition to the idioms beginning with dance
- dance attendance on
- dance to another tune
also see:
- lead a chase (dance)
- song and dance
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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