I. ˈsambə, ˈsäm-, ˈsaam-, ˈsȧm- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Portuguese, of African origin
1.
a. : a Brazilian dance of African origin characterized by a sprightly step pattern in duple time and by a bouncy dip and spring upward of the torso with a bending of the knee at each beat of the music
b. : music in 4/4 time for dancing the samba
2.
a. : a variation of canasta using three decks and six jokers and including in the possible melds a seven-card natural sequence worth 1500 points, game being 10,000 points
b. : a seven-card natural sequence meld in samba
3.
[native name in Nigeria]
: obeche
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to dance the samba
trying to conga, rumba, and samba — Time