dance

dance (d

ns)

v. danced, danc·ing, danc·es

v.intr.

1. To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures.

a. To leap or skip about excitedly.

b. To appear to flash or twinkle: eyes that danced with merriment.

c. Informal To appear to skip about; vacillate: danced around the issue.

3. To bob up and down.

v.tr.

1. To engage in or perform (a dance).

2. To cause to dance.

3. To bring to a particular state or condition by dancing: My partner danced me to exhaustion.

1. A series of motions and steps, usually performed to music.

2. The art of dancing: studied dance in college.

3. A party or gathering of people for dancing; a ball.

4. One round or turn of dancing: May I have this dance?

5. A musical or rhythmical piece composed or played for dancing.

6. The act or an instance of dancing.

[Middle English dauncen, from Old French danser, perhaps of Germanic origin.]

dancer n.

dancing·ly adv.

dance

Verb

[dancing, danced]

1. to move the feet and body rhythmically in time to music

2. to perform (a particular dance): to dance a tango

3. to skip or leap

4. to move in a rhythmic way: their reflection danced in the black waters

5. dance attendance on someone to carry out someone's slightest wish in an overeager manner

Noun

1. a social meeting arranged for dancing

2. a series of rhythmic steps and movements in time to music

3. a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance [Old French dancier]

dancer n
dancing nadj

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	dance - an artistic form of nonverbal communication art, fine art - the products of human creativity; works of art collectively; "an art exhibition"; "a fine collection of art" extension - the ability to raise the working leg high in the air; "the dancer was praised for her uncanny extension"; "good extension comes from a combination of training and native ability" choreography - the representation of dancing by symbols as music is represented by notes choreograph - compose a sequence of dance steps, often to music; "Balanchine choreographed many pieces to Stravinsky's music" hoof - dance in a professional capacity tap dance - perform a tap dance heel - perform with the heels; "heel that dance"
	2.	dance - a party of people assembled for dancing party - a group of people gathered together for pleasure; "she joined the party after dinner" ball - the people assembled at a lavish formal dance; "the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded"
	3.	dance - taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music dancing, terpsichore, saltation sidestep - a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing) diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation" adagio - a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers break dance, break dancing - a form of solo dancing that involves rapid acrobatic moves in which different parts of the body touch the ground; normally performed to the rhythm of rap music courante - a court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreats nauch, nautch, nautch dance - an intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls pavan, pavane - a stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries phrase - dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence saraband - a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow time skank - a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees slam dance, slam dancing - a form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rock hoofing, step dancing - dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures toe dance, toe dancing - a dance performed on tiptoe choreography, stage dancing - a show involving artistic dancing pas seul, variation - (ballet) a solo dance or dance figure pas de deux, duet - (ballet) a dance for two people (usually a ballerina and a danseur noble) pas de trois - (ballet) a dance for three people pas de quatre - (ballet) a dance for four people social dancing - dancing as part of a social occasion mambo - a Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba ceremonial dance, ritual dance, ritual dancing - a dance that is part of a religious ritual tap - a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing) performing arts - arts or skills that require public performance busker - a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money jive - dance to jive music; dance the jive trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio" clog - dance a clog dance tap dance - perform a tap dance belly dance - perform a belly dance heel - perform with the heels; "heel that dance" shimmy - dance a shimmy
	4.	dance - a party for social dancing party - an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment; "he planned a party to celebrate Bastille Day" formal, ball - a lavish dance requiring formal attire barn dance - a dance party featuring country dancing record hop, hop - an informal dance where popular music is played rave - a dance party that lasts all night and electronically synthesized music is played; "raves are very popular in Berlin"
Verb	1.	dance - move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl danced into the room" trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" glissade - perform a glissade, in ballet chasse, sashay - perform a chasse step, in ballet capriole - perform a capriole, in ballet
	2.	dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio" trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe dancing, terpsichore, dance, saltation - taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music jive - dance to jive music; dance the jive hoof - dance in a professional capacity clog - dance a clog dance tap dance - perform a tap dance belly dance - perform a belly dance heel - perform with the heels; "heel that dance" shimmy - dance a shimmy move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" dance - move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl danced into the room" bebop, bop - dance the bebop bump - dance erotically or dance with the pelvis thrust forward; "bump and grind" twist - do the twist waltz, waltz around - dance a waltz tapdance, tap - dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes; "Glover tapdances better than anybody" tango - dance a tango shag - dance the shag foxtrot - dance the foxtrot contra danse, contradance, contredanse, country-dance - perform a contradance break dance, break-dance, break - do a break dance; "Kids were break-dancing at the street corner" cakewalk - perform the cakewalk dance conga - dance the conga samba - dance the samba two-step - dance the two-step Charleston - dance the Charleston boogie - dance to boogie music cha-cha - dance the cha-cha disco - dance to disco music mambo - dance a mambo polka - dance a polka one-step - dance the one-step rhumba, rumba - dance the rhumba mosh, slam dance, thrash, slam - dance the slam dance jig - dance a quick dance with leaping and kicking motions jitterbug - do the jitterbug folk dance - perform a folk-dance square dance - dance in formation quickstep - perform a quickstep kick - kick a leg up skank - dance the skank grind - dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way, often while in contact with one's partner such that the dancers' legs are interlaced
	3.	dance - skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right"