flamenco

[flah-meng-koh, fluh-]

noun

plural

flamencos 

1. a style of dancing, characteristic of the Andalusian Roma, that is strongly rhythmic and involves vigorous actions, as clapping the hands and stamping the feet.

2. a style of instrumental or vocal music originating in southern Spain and typically of an intensely rhythmic, improvisatory character, performed by itself or as an accompaniment to flamenco dancing.

adjective

1. Also flamencan. of or like the music and dances of the Andalusian Roma.

   flamenco rhythms.

flamenco

/ fləˈmɛŋkəʊ /

noun

1. a type of dance music for vocal soloist and guitar, characterized by elaborate melody and sad mood

2. the dance performed to such music

Word History and Origins

Origin of flamenco¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Spanish flamenco “pertaining to the Andalusian Roma,” literally, Fleming ¹ (in the sense “a native of Flanders”); the sense shift is variously explained

Word History and Origins

Origin of flamenco¹

from Spanish: like a gipsy, literally: Fleming, from Middle Dutch Vlaminc Fleming

Example Sentences

At Amama's headquarters in the city of Seville, a mosaic promoting self-examinations and leaflets advertising flamenco classes to fight the side effects of chemotherapy welcome breast cancer sufferers.

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Her 2017 debut album, “Los Ángeles,” was a collection of updated interpretations of traditional flamenco pieces that essentially served as a capstone to her years of study at the Catalonia College of Music.

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In ice dance, reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates capitalised on their four-point lead, debuting an intense flamenco to a version of "Paint It Black".

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But critics have lavished praise on the record, calling it a "jaw-dropping" and "brutal" act of "personal exorcism", while praising Allen's gift for melody, on songs that span flamenco, bossa nova, and "infectious pop".

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Vanity Fair, which covered the weekend, described guests arriving by horse-drawn carriage for a dinner and flamenco party, and there were also cultural tours of castles and art galleries.

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