Definition of Dance

1. Verb. Move in a graceful and rhythmical way. "The streets dance with crowds"; "The young girl danced into the room"

Related verbs: Trip The Light Fantastic, Trip The Light Fantastic Toe
Generic synonyms: Move
Specialized synonyms: Glissade, Chasse, Sashay, Capriole
Entails: Step
Derivative terms: Dancer, Dancer

2. Noun. An artistic form of nonverbal communication.
Generic synonyms: Art, Fine Art
Specialized synonyms: Extension, Choreography
Examples of category: Choreograph, Hoof, Tap Dance, Heel

3. Verb. Move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance. "Sam and Sue dance"; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio"

4. Noun. A party of people assembled for dancing.
Generic synonyms: Party
Specialized synonyms: Ball

5. Verb. Skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways. "The children danced with joy"
Generic synonyms: Move

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

7. Noun. A party for social dancing.
Generic synonyms: Party
Specialized synonyms: Ball, Formal, Barn Dance, Hop, Record Hop, Rave

Definition of Dance

1. v. i. 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.

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

3. n. 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.

Definition of Dance

1. Noun. A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction. ¹

2. Noun. A social gathering where dancing is designed to take place. ¹

3. Noun. (heraldiccharge) A fess that has been modified to zig-zag across the center of a coat of arms from dexter to sinister. ¹

4. Noun. A genre of modern music characterised by sampled beats, repetitive rhythms and few lyrics. ¹

5. Noun. The art, profession, and study of dancing. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To move with rhythmic steps or movements, especially in time to music. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To leap or move lightly and rapidly. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To perform the steps to. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Dance

1. to move rhythmically to music [v DANCED, DANCING, DANCES]

Medical Definition of Dance

1. 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 rhytmically. "Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance." (Wiher) "Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your dauther?" (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. Origin: F. Danser, fr. OHG. Dansn to draw; akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. Apinsan, and prob. From the same root (meaning to stretch) as E. Thin. See Thin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Dance

damsons
dan
dan buoy
danaid
danaite
danalite
danalites
danazol
danazols
danbaite
danburite
danburites
danc't
dancathon
dance-hall
dance-off
dance attendance
dance band
dance card
dance cards
dance floor
dance floors
dance hall
dance halls
dance lesson
dance mat
dance music
dance of death

Literary usage of Dance

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1913)
"GREEK DRAMA AND THE dance. Modern performances of Greek tragedy in English, which yearly grow more frequent, are usually successful in leaving an Impression ..."

2. The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore by Thomas Moore (1910)
"SAY, WHAT SHALL WE dance ? SAY, what shall we dance ? Shall we bound along the moonlight plain, To music of Italy, Greece, or Spain Î Say, what shall we ..."

3. Our Wild Indians: Thirty-three Years Personal Experience Among the Red Men by Richard Irving Dodge (1882)
"Indian Dancing Customs — Preparations for the Scalp dance — A Hideous Picture — The Circle of Wands — On the Border of Frenzy — Bringing Out Old Scalps ..."

4. George Eliot's Works by George Eliot (1893)
"To be sure, a stone floor was not the pleasantest to dance on; but then, most of the dancers had known what it was to enjoy a Christmas dance on kitchen ..."

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