Definitions for: Dance


[n] taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
[n] an artistic form of nonverbal communication
[n] a party for social dancing
[n] a party of people assembled for dancing
[v] 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"
[v] move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl danced into the room"
[v] skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy"



Webster (1913) Definition: Dance (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced; p. pr. &
vb. n. Dancing.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dans[=o]n to draw;
akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. apinsan, and prob. from the
same root (meaning to stretch) as E. thin. See Thin.]
1. To move with measured steps, or to a musical
accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company
with others, with a regulated succession of movements,
(commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap
rhythmically.

Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. --Wither.

Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances
with your daughter? --Shak.

2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion;
to caper; to frisk; to skip about.

Then, 'tis time to dance off. --Thackeray.

More dances my rapt heart Than when I first my
wedded mistress saw. --Shak.

Shadows in the glassy waters dance. --Byron.

Where rivulets dance their wayward round.
--Wordsworth.

To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged.


Dance, v. t.
To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and
down; to dandle.

To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. --Shak.

Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced
thee on his knee. --Shak.

To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or
remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a
view to please or gain favor.

A man of his place, and so near our favor, To dance
attendance on their lordships' pleasure. --Shak.


Dance, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v.
i.]
1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who
dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the
persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord
with music.

2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the
minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.

Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older
writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.

Of remedies of love she knew parchance For of
that art she couth the olde dance. --Chaucer.

Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the
power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high,
and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.

Morris dance. See Morris.

To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of
movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a
dance not understood.

Synonyms: dancing, saltation, terpsichore, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe

See Also: art, ball, ball, barn dance, bebop, belly dance, bop, break, break dance, break dance, break dancing, break-dance, bump, cakewalk, capriole, ceremonial dance, chasse, choreography, choreography, clog, conga, contra danse, contradance, contredanse, country-dance, diversion, duet, fine art, folk dance, foxtrot, glissade, grind, heel, hoof, hoofing, hop, jig, jitterbug, jive, kick, mosh, move, move, nauch, nautch, nautch dance, party, party, pas de deux, pas seul, pavan, pavane, quickstep, rave, record hop, recreation, rhumba, ritual dance, ritual dancing, samba, saraband, shag, shimmy, skank, slam, slam dance, slam dance, slam dancing, social dancing, square dance, stage dancing, step, step dancing, tango, tap, tap dance, tapdance, thrash, toe dance, toe dancing, twist, variation, waltz, waltz around

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