tango

[tang-goh]

noun

plural

tangos 

1. a ballroom dance of Latin American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses.

2. music for this dance.

3. a word used in communications to represent the letter T.

verb (used without object)

tangoed, tangoing 

1. to dance the tango.

Tango

¹

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter t

tango

²

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a Latin American dance in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

verb

1. (intr) to perform this dance

tango

1. A sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century.

Other Word Forms

• tangoist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish, possibly from a Niger-Congo language such as Ibibio tamgu “to dance”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

C20: from American Spanish, probably of Niger-Congo origin; compare Ibibio tamgu to dance

Related Words

• disco 
• samba 
• waltz