waltz

[wawlts]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR waltz ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

RELATED WORDS

march, music, whirl

Nearby words

Origin of waltz

1775–85; back formation from German Walzer a waltz (taken as walz + -er¹), derivative of walzen to roll, dance; compare obsolete English walt unsteady, dial. walter to roll

Related formswaltz·er, nounwaltz·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for waltz

I think people think that I would just wake up in the morning and do Bollywood or the waltz, things I had never done before.
'So You Think You Can Dance' Winner Ricky Ubeda Is Adorable, and Tired|Kevin Fallon|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take, for example, the simple chuckle of seeing Christoph Waltz do the waltz, a seconds-long, perfect cameo.
‘Muppets Most Wanted’ Is a Perfect (Utterly Silly) Muppet Movie|Kevin Fallon|March 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paul Wolfowitz lied airily about what a waltz it would all be.
If We Stay Out of Syria, Assad Has Bush to Thank|Michael Tomasky|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Waltz eventually replaced DiCaprio in the role and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2012’s Most Anticipated Movies: Dark Knight Rises, Hunger Games, More|Marlow Stern|January 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Waltz and the other actors mentioned declined comment via their reps.
Oscars' Effect on Stars' Careers|Marlow Stern|February 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The music has changed and some of the five hundred present are swinging in the waltz.
Twenty Years in Europe|Samuel H. M. Byers
I engage Madeleine for the first quadrille, and Bertha for the first waltz.
Fairy Fingers|Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie
She jumped out of bed and, humming a popular tune, danced a waltz for them in her nightgown.
Comrade Yetta|Albert Edwards
In a remote corner a band of mandolins and guitars played the long, sweeping, mad melody of a Spanish waltz.
The Third Violet|Stephen Crane
The last objection swept away, Fernando began secretly to take lessons in the waltz, cotillon and other dances of the day.
Sustained honor|John R. Musick,

British Dictionary definitions for waltz

waltz

noun

a ballroom dance in triple time in which couples spin around as they progress round the room

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

verb

to dance or lead (someone) in or as in a waltzhe waltzed her off her feet

(intr) to move in a sprightly and self-assured manner

(intr) informal to succeed easily

Derived Formswaltzlike, adjective

Word Origin for waltz

C18: from German Walzer, from Middle High German walzen to roll; compare welter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for waltz

waltz

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."

waltz

1794, from waltz (n.). Meaning "to move nimbly" is recorded from 1862. Related: Waltzed; waltzing.

waltz

noun

adjective

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of waltz

Examples from the Web for waltz

waltz

noun

verb

Word Origin for waltz

waltz

waltz