romance

[ noun, adjective roh-mans, roh-mans; verb roh-mans ]

/ noun, adjective roʊˈmæns, ˈroʊ mæns; verb roʊˈmæns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR romance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a novel, movie, or genre of popular fiction in which characters fall in love or begin a romantic relationship (often used attributively): We knew it was a romance, so we were expecting a happy ending. Romance novels are popular escapist entertainment.

a novel or other prose narrative depicting heroic or marvelous deeds, pageantry, romantic exploits, etc., usually in a historical or imaginary setting.

the colorful world, life, or conditions depicted in such tales.

a medieval narrative, originally one in verse and in some Romance dialect, treating of heroic, fantastic, or supernatural events, often in the form of allegory.

a baseless, made-up story, usually full of exaggeration or fanciful invention.

a romantic spirit, sentiment, emotion, or desire.

romantic character or quality.

a romantic affair or experience; a love affair.

(initial capital letter) Also Romanic. Also called Romance languages. the group of Italic Indo-European languages descended since a.d. 800 from Latin, as French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Provençal, Catalan, Rhaeto-Romanic, Sardinian, and Ladino. Abbreviation: Rom.

verb (used without object), ro·manced, ro·manc·ing.

to invent or relate romances; indulge in fanciful or extravagant stories or daydreams.

to think or talk romantically.

verb (used with object), ro·manced, ro·manc·ing.

Informal.

to court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness: He's currently romancing a very attractive widow.
to court the favor of or make overtures to; play up to: They need to romance the local business community if they expect to do business here.

adjective

(initial capital letter) Also Romanic. of, relating to, or noting Romance: a Romance language.

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Origin of romance

1250–1300; Middle English romaunce Romanic language, composition in such a language < Old French, derivative of romanz, romans (adj.) Romanic < Vulgar Latin *Rōmānicē (adv.) in a Romance language, derivative of Latin Rōmānicus Romanic

SYNONYMS FOR romance

2 story, fiction.

5 falsehood, fable.

7 allure, fascination, exoticism.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR romance ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM romance

ro·manc·er, noun

Words nearby romance

roman shade, roman snail, roman strike, roman à clef, roman-fleuve, romance, romance languages, romanes, romanesque, romani, romania

Definition for romance (2 of 2)

romance²

[ roh-mans ]

/ roʊˈmæns /

noun

Music. a short, simple melody, vocal or instrumental, of tender character.

Spanish Literature. a short epic poem, especially a historical ballad.

Origin of romance

1595–1605; < French < Spanish: kind of poem, ballad < Old French romanz romance¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for romance

The girls ran in the same circle (Palmolive was also in the Flowers of Romance) and the group was looking for a guitarist.
A First Lady of Punk Rock Talks|Justin Jones|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is where the sporadic and hectic handling of the romance in the movies fails.
Team Peeta or Team Gale: Why the ‘Hunger Games’ Love Triangle Ruins ‘Mockingjay – Part 1’|Kevin Fallon|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it was fun to not write people as people, but missiles and machines as people—with feelings, and arguments, and romance.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like all romance in The Twilight Zone, it ends well for neither party, but especially bad for the man.
How a War-Weary Vet Created ‘The Twilight Zone’|Rich Goldstein|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The memoir also explores the romance between you and your late husband, Robert Graham, whom you speak very lovingly of.
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson|Alex Suskind|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We thought of "Our Romance" the first thing in the morning and talked of it the last thing at night.
Eighty Years And More; Reminiscences 1815-1897|Elizabeth Cady Stanton
The primary interests of the romance, however, far outweighing its philosophy and its adventures, is love.
Essays on the Greek Romances|Elizabeth Hazelton Haight
"Oh, auntie brought her romance with her," Tom broke in, and Lou gave him a look of tender reproof.
The Starbucks|Opie Percival Read
These verities of history contain the interest of romance, and our children's children will read them with wonder and admiration.
The Underground Railroad|William Still
Here is a romance, strong and appealing, one which will please all classes of readers.
A Chain of Evidence|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for romance (1 of 2)

romance

noun (rəˈmæns, ˈrəʊmæns)

a love affair, esp an intense and happy but short-lived affair involving young people

love, esp romantic love idealized for its purity or beauty

a spirit of or inclination for adventure, excitement, or mystery

a mysterious, exciting, sentimental, or nostalgic quality, esp one associated with a place

a narrative in verse or prose, written in a vernacular language in the Middle Ages, dealing with strange and exciting adventures of chivalrous heroes

any similar narrative work dealing with events and characters remote from ordinary life

the literary genre represented by works of these kinds

(in Spanish literature) a short narrative poem, usually an epic or historical ballad

a story, novel, film, etc, dealing with love, usually in an idealized or sentimental way

an extravagant, absurd, or fantastic account or explanation

a lyrical song or short instrumental composition having a simple melody

verb (rəˈmæns)

(intr) to tell, invent, or write extravagant or romantic fictions

(intr) to tell extravagant or improbable lies

(intr) to have romantic thoughts

(intr) (of a couple) to indulge in romantic behaviour

(tr) to be romantically involved with

Derived forms of romance

romancer, noun

Word Origin for romance

C13: romauns, from Old French romans, ultimately from Latin Rōmānicus Roman