English Dictionary
Definition of “dance”
dance (dɑːns
)
Definitions
verb
- (intr) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
- (tr) to perform (a particular dance)
- (intr) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
- to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
- See dance attendance on someone
noun
- a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music Terpsichorean
- an act of dancing
- a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
- ((as modifier) ⇒
a dance hall
- a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
- short for dance music (sense 2)
- dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
- See lead someone a dance
Alternative Forms
ˈdanceable adjective ˈdancer noun ˈdancing noun adjective Word Origin
C13: from Old French dancier
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
prance,
rock,
trip,
swing,
spin,
hop,
skip,
sway,
whirl,
caper,
jig,
frolic,
cavort,
gambol,
bob up and down cut a rug=
caper,
trip,
spring,
jump,
bound,
leap,
bounce,
hop,
skip,
romp,
frolic,
cavort,
gambol,
=
sparkle,
move,
flash,
glitter,
wink,
shimmer,
twinkle,
glint,
glisten,
glister,
scintillate,
Quotations
"You should make a point of trying everything once, excepting incest and folk-dancing"
Arnold Bax"There are many kinds of dances, but all those requiring the participation of the two sexes have two characteristics in common; they are conspicuously innocent, and warmly loved by the vicious"
Ambrose Bierce"Come, knit hands, and beat the ground,In a light fantastic round"
John Milton"Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself"
Havelock Ellis"On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined;No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meetTo chase the glowing hours with flying feet"
Lord Byron"No sober man dances, unless he happens to be mad"
Cicero
Translations
- British English:
dance
A dance is a series of steps and rhythmic movements which you do to music. It is also a piece of music which people can dance to.The next dance was a waltz.dɑːns NOUN The next dance was a waltz.
- Spanish:
baile
nm
- French:
danse
nf
- German:
Tanz
nm Tänze
- Chinese: 舞蹈 n
- Arabic: رَقْصَة n
- Portuguese: dança nf
- Russian: танец nm
- Croatian: ples nm
- Czech: tanec nm
- Danish: dans nutr
- Dutch: dans nm
- Finnish: tanssi n
- Greek: χορός nm
- Italian: ballo nm
- Japanese: ダンス n
- Korean: 춤 n
- Norwegian: dans nm
- Polish: taniec nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: dança nf
- European Spanish:
baile
nm
- Swedish: dans nutr
- Thai: การเต้นรำ n
- Turkish: dans n
- Vietnamese: sự nhảy múa n
- British English:
dance
When you dance, you move around in time to music.They could see a couple dancing together.dɑːns VERB They could see a couple dancing together.
- Spanish:
bailar
v
- French:
danser
v
- German:
tanzen
v
- Chinese: 跳舞 v
- Arabic: يَرْقُصُ v
- Portuguese: dançar v
- Russian: танцевать v
- Croatian: plesati v
- Czech: zatančit v tančit
- Danish: danse v
- Dutch: dansen v
- Finnish: tanssia v
- Greek: χορεύω v
- Italian: ballare v
- Japanese: 踊る v
- Korean: 춤추다 v
- Norwegian: danse v
- Polish: zatańczyć v tańczyć
- Brazilian Portuguese: dançar v
- European Spanish:
bailar
v
- Swedish: dansa v
- Thai: เต้นรำ v
- Turkish: dans etmek v
- Vietnamese: nhảy múa v
Usage examples
Loxy indicated Colin, who was now dancing with everyone on the dance floor.
Jenny Colgan, LOOKING FOR ANDREW McCARTHY (2002)At the time, Albarn denied this meant the band were taking a dance direction.
NME (New Musical Express) (2002)The German daily Bild had likened Argentina's team to their traditional dance , the tango, sensuous and passionate.
Irish Times (2002)The tower opens early in July, but there already has been TV filming inside, for druggy dance culture drama Tinseltown.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Dance is the most natural activity in the world... except for sex, and that too is a dance !
Amoda, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)
