dance

[ dans, dahns ]

/ dæns, dɑns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dance ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), danced, danc·ing.

to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.

to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly: to dance with joy.

to bob up and down: The toy sailboats danced on the pond.

verb (used with object), danced, danc·ing.

to perform or take part in (a dance): to dance a waltz.

to cause to dance: He danced her around the ballroom.

to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing: She danced her way to stardom.

noun

a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.

an act or round of dancing; set: May I have this dance?

the art of dancing: to study dance.

a social gathering or party for dancing; ball: Was he invited to the dance?

a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing: He liked the composer's country dances.

Animal Behavior. a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.

the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.

Idioms for dance

dance attendance. attendance(def 3).

dance on air, Slang. to be hanged.

dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.

Origin of dance

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English da(u)ncen < Anglo-French dancer, dauncer, Old French dancier, perhaps < Old High German *dansjan to lead (someone) to a dance; (noun) Middle English da(u)nce < Anglo-French; Old French dance, derivative of dancier

SYNONYMS FOR dance

2 cavort, caper, frolic, gambol, prance.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dance ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM dance

danc·ing·ly, adverb an·ti·danc·ing, adjective out·dance, verb (used with object), out·danced, out·danc·ing. un·danc·ing, adjective

well-danced, adjective

Words nearby dance

danaë, danaüs, danburite, danbury, danby, dance, dance attendance on, dance band, dance card, dance drama, dance floor

Example sentences from the Web for dancing

Her very first performance onstage came at the age of 4, when she cameoed as a dancing flower in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom |Marlow Stern |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Pakistan was dancing for the U.S. dollar and joined up with it without any dignity.

Pakistani School Killers Want to Strike the U.S. |Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey |December 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We arrived to the din of a party in full swing: a band, multiple kegs of beer, dancing, foosball, and mantle diving.

I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything |Liz Seccuro |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
People milled about in various stages of inebriation, dancing, and shouting.

I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything |Liz Seccuro |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

We are talking about public gatherings, people will be together, dancing, sweating, and touching each other.

Liberian Senatorial Elections Defy Ebola |Wade Williams |December 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When Gwynne and Isabel descended the steps and stood looking down upon the scene for a moment, the younger people were dancing.

Ancestors |Gertrude Atherton
The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.

Aesop's Fables |Aesop
We really ought to be dancing—but I'll try my luck once more on No. 4.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 103, November 12, 1892 |Various
The night is spent in eating, drinking, smoking, singing and dancing.

The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) |Sir James George Frazer
When the dancing began, Effie May's exuberance could no longer contain itself.

Why Joan? |Eleanor Mercein Kelly

British Dictionary definitions for dancing

dance

/ (dɑːns) /

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

dance attendance on someone to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously

noun

a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music Related adjective: 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 (def. 2)

dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern

lead someone a dance British informal to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up

Derived forms of dance

danceable, adjective dancer, noun dancing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for dance

C13: from Old French dancier

Idioms and Phrases with dancing

dance

In addition to the idioms beginning with dance

dance attendance on
dance to another tune

also see:

lead a chase (dance)
song and dance

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dance

verb (used without object), danced, danc·ing.

verb (used with object), danced, danc·ing.

noun

Idioms for dance

Origin of dance

SYNONYMS FOR dance

OTHER WORDS FROM dance

Words nearby dance

Example sentences from the Web for dancing

British Dictionary definitions for dancing

verb

noun

Derived forms of dance

Word Origin for dance

Idioms and Phrases with dancing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dance

verb (used without object), danced, danc·ing.

verb (used with object), danced, danc·ing.

noun

Idioms for dance

Origin of dance

SYNONYMS FOR dance

OTHER WORDS FROM dance

Words nearby dance

Words related to dancing

Example sentences from the Web for dancing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for dancing

verb

noun

Derived forms of dance

Word Origin for dance

Idioms and Phrases with dancing

British Dictionary definitions for dancing