a ballroom dance, in moderately fast triple meter, in which the dancers revolve in perpetual circles, taking one step to each beat.
a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance.
Informal. an easy victory or accomplishment: The game was a waltz—we won by four touchdowns. The math exam was a waltz.
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the waltz, as music, rhythm, or dance: waltz tempo.
verb (used without object)
to dance or move in a waltz step or rhythm: an invitation to waltz.
Informal.
to move breezily or casually: to waltz in late for dinner.
to progress easily or successfully (often followed by through): to waltz through an exam.
verb (used with object)
to lead (a partner) in dancing a waltz.
Informal. to move or lead briskly and easily: He waltzed us right into the governor's office.
to fill (a period of time) with waltzing (often followed by away, through, etc.): They waltzed the night away.
Origin of waltz
1775–85; back formation from GermanWalzer a waltz (taken as walz + -er1), derivative of walzen to roll, dance; compare obsolete Englishwalt unsteady, dial. walter to roll
dance performed to music in triple time, 1781, from German Waltzer, from walzen "to roll, dance," from Old High German walzan "to turn, roll," from Proto-Germanic *walt- (cf. Old Norse velta), from PIE root *wel- "to turn, revolve" (see volvox). Described in 1825 as "a riotous and indecent German dance."
v.
1794, from waltz (n.). Meaning "to move nimbly" is recorded from 1862. Related: Waltzed; waltzing.
