Library / English Dictionary

PRANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A proud stiff pompous gait

Synonyms:

prance; strut; swagger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

gait (a person's manner of walking)

Derivation:

prance (to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others

Example:

He struts around like a rooster in a hen house

Synonyms:

cock; prance; ruffle; sashay; strut; swagger; tittup

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The children prance to the playground

Derivation:

prance (a proud stiff pompous gait)

prancer (a mettlesome or fiery horse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

ride horseback (ride on horseback)

Domain category:

horseback riding; riding (travel by being carried on horseback)

equitation; horseback riding; riding (the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause (a horse) to bound spring forward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

ride; sit (sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions)

Verb group:

prance (spring forward on the hind legs)

Domain category:

horseback riding; riding (travel by being carried on horseback)

equitation; horseback riding; riding (the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Spring forward on the hind legs

Example:

The young horse was prancing in the meadow

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

prance (cause (a horse) to bound spring forward)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

He ran, he flew, he pranced, his face glowed, his bald head shown, his coattails waved wildly, his pumps actually twinkled in the air, and when the music stopped, he wiped the drops from his brow, and beamed upon his fellow men like a French Pickwick without glasses.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mornin' now, announced Demi in joyful tone as he entered, with his long nightgown gracefully festooned over his arm and every curl bobbing gayly as he pranced about the table, eyeing the 'cakies' with loving glances.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)