a ballroom dance of Latin American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses.
music for this dance.
a word used in communications to represent the letter T.
a Latin American dance in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish, possibly from a Niger-Congo language such as Ibibio tamgu “to dance”
The noun tango usually refers to the Argentine tango, a dramatic ballroom dance, and the expressive music that goes along with it. The tango is known for being a passionate, emotional form of dance in which the dancing couple hold each other closely and make abrupt — yet graceful — movements. The accompanying music is equally dramatic and varied, often featuring many instruments such as violin, piano, and bandoneón, a type of concertina or small accordion. The word tango is of Latin American Spanish origin, probably from an African root word.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He could move with the grace of the tango aficionado he became or with the slow, pained gait of the cancer-ridden editor he played in “The Paper.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
It takes two to tango, but it was only she who paid the band.
From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026
The men also have solo turns but the suite leaves only a passing impression, of postmodern tango mixed with occasional sleek social dancing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025
The festival further hosts multimedia projects, lakeside tango, children’s programs and other miscellany events.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025
Welles cues Bernard Herrmann, and the CBS orchestra plays a Spanish tango.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
