Library / English Dictionary

DANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

Synonyms:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("dance" is a kind of...):

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Domain member category:

tap dance (perform a tap dance)

clog (dance a clog dance)

belly dance (perform a belly dance)

heel (perform with the heels)

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

jive (dance to jive music; dance the jive)

busker (a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money)

tap (a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing))

sidestep (a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dance"):

ceremonial dance; ritual dance; ritual dancing (a dance that is part of a religious ritual)

mambo (a Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba)

social dancing (dancing as part of a social occasion)

pas de quatre ((ballet) a dance for four people)

pas de trois ((ballet) a dance for three people)

duet; pas de deux ((ballet) a dance for two people (usually a ballerina and a danseur noble))

pas seul; variation ((ballet) a solo dance or dance figure)

choreography; stage dancing (a show involving artistic dancing)

toe dance; toe dancing (a dance performed on tiptoe)

hoofing; step dancing (dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures)

slam dance; slam dancing (a form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rock)

skank (a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees)

saraband (a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow time)

phrase (dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence)

pavan; pavane (a stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries)

nauch; nautch; nautch dance (an intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls)

courante (a court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreats)

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)

adagio (a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers)

Derivation:

dance (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An artistic form of nonverbal communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("dance" is a kind of...):

art; fine art (the products of human creativity; works of art collectively)

Domain member category:

choreograph (compose a sequence of dance steps, often to music)

hoof (dance in a professional capacity)

tap dance (perform a tap dance)

heel (perform with the heels)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dance"):

extension (the ability to raise the working leg high in the air)

choreography (the representation of dancing by symbols as music is represented by notes)

Derivation:

dance (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A party for social dancing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("dance" is a kind of...):

party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dance"):

rave (a dance party that lasts all night and electronically synthesized music is played)

hop; record hop (an informal dance where popular music is played)

barn dance (a dance party featuring country dancing)

ball; formal (a lavish dance requiring formal attire)

Derivation:

dance (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A party of people assembled for dancing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("dance" is a kind of...):

party (a group of people gathered together for pleasure)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dance"):

ball (the people assembled at a lavish formal dance)

Derivation:

dance (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance

Example:

My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio

Synonyms:

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "dance" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Verb group:

dance (move in a graceful and rhythmical way)

Domain category:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dance"):

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; slam dance; thrash (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)

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)

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

bebop; bop (dance the bebop)

bump (dance erotically or dance with the pelvis thrust forward)

twist (do the twist)

waltz; waltz around (dance a waltz)

tap; tapdance (dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes)

tango (dance a tango)

shag (dance the shag)

foxtrot (dance the foxtrot)

contra danse; contradance; contredanse; country-dance (perform a contradance)

break; break-dance; break dance (do a break dance)

cakewalk (perform the cakewalk dance)

conga (dance the conga)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue dance

Derivation:

dance (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)

dance (an artistic form of nonverbal communication)

dance (a party for social dancing)

dance (a party of people assembled for dancing)

dancer (a performer who dances professionally)

dancer (a person who participates in a social gathering arranged for dancing (as a ball))

dancing (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move in a graceful and rhythmical way

Example:

The young girl danced into the room

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "dance" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

"Dance" entails doing...:

step (shift or move by taking a step)

Verb group:

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dance"):

glissade (perform a glissade, in ballet)

chasse; sashay (perform a chasse step, in ballet)

capriole (perform a capriole, in ballet)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

The crowds dance in the streets

The streets dance with crowds

Derivation:

dancer (a performer who dances professionally)

dancer (a person who participates in a social gathering arranged for dancing (as a ball))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways

Example:

The children danced with joy

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "dance" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

“Peste!” growled the soldier, striking his flagon on the board until the dishes danced again.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then she sat upon a settee and watched the people dance.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Meg danced and flirted, chattered and giggled, as the other girls did.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It looks like you will be dancing in the streets when the news arrives.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Now shall I dance for you?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He resumed his unpleasant and stealthy advance, pointing his toes as he walked, like a dancing master.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The answer was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather play. She is never tired of playing."

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I lighted the dry branch of a tree and danced with fury around the devoted cottage, my eyes still fixed on the western horizon, the edge of which the moon nearly touched.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)