I. ˈdan(t)s, ˈdaa(ə)n-, ˈdain-, ˈdȧn- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English dauncen, from Old French dancier, perhaps from (assumed) Vulgar Latin deantiare, from Late Latin deante in front of, from Latin de from + ante in front of — more at de- , ante-
intransitive verb
1. : to perform either alone or with others a rhythmic and patterned succession of steps usually to music
2. : to move or seem to move nimbly and quickly up and down or about (as from excitement or emotion) : leap , spring , skip
a blow that made him dance with pain
danced for joy at the news
heart dancing with happiness
3. : to bob up and down (as in the air or on the surface of water)
motes dancing in a beam of light
transitive verb
1. : to perform, execute, or take part in as a dancer
dance a polka
danced the title role in the ballet
2.
a. : to cause to dance : lead in a dance
b. : to cause to move up and down with a bouncing jerky motion : dandle
dance a baby on his knee
3. : to bring or accompany into a specified condition or position by dancing
danced himself into the favor of the queen
danced the new year in
danced his youth away
•
- dance attendance
- dance on nothing
- dance to another tune
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English daunce, from Old French dance, from dancier to dance
1. : rhythmic movement having as its aim the creation of visual designs by a series of poses and tracing of patterns through space in the course of measured units of time, the two components, static and kinetic, receiving varying emphasis (as in ballet, natya, and modern dance) and being executed by different parts of the body in accordance with temperament, artistic precepts, and purpose : the art of dancing
2.
a. : a round or turn of dancing
b. : a social gathering for the purpose of dancing
3. : the figure or pattern of a particular form of dancing : a coherent series of movement patterns
4.
a. : a piece of music by which dancing may be guided (as a jig, minuet, or waltz)
b. : any musical composition in a dance rhythm
5. : a ceremony among American Indians in which dancing and singing play a conspicuous part — see corn dance , snake dance , sun dance , war dance
6. : a sequence of more or less rhythmic stereotyped movements habitually made by an animal in response to a particular stimulus
the courting dance of a prairie chicken
specifically : a series of special steps and turns whereby worker honeybees communicate the whereabouts of food to their fellow workers
7. : a rhythmic or lively movement suggestive of dancing
8. : a zigzag fess