Definitions for dance
dæns, dɑnsdance

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dance(noun)

   an artistic form of nonverbal communication

2. dance(noun)

   a party of people assembled for dancing

3. dancing, dance, terpsichore, saltation(noun)

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

4. dance(verb)

   a party for social dancing

5. dance(verb)

   move in a graceful and rhythmical way

   "The young girl danced into the room"

6. dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe(verb)

   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"

7. dance(verb)

   skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways

   "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy"

Wiktionary(2.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dance(Noun)

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

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

2. dance(Noun)

   A social gathering where dancing is designed to take place.

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

3. dance(Noun)

   A fess that has been modified to zig-zag across the center of a coat of arms from dexter to sinister.

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

4. dance(Noun)

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

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

5. dance(Noun)

   The art, profession, and study of dancing.

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

6. dance(Verb)

   To move with rhythmic steps or movements, especially in time to music.

   I danced with her all night long.

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

7. dance(Verb)

   To leap or move lightly and rapidly.

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

8. dance(Verb)

   To perform the steps to.

   Have you ever danced the tango?

   Etymology: daunsen, from dancer (compare dancier), from (compare danson), from (compare Old Dutch þinsan, Old High German dinsan,
   0338
   0339
   033D
   0343
   0330
   033D, from þansōnan, from þinsanan, from ten-s. See thin.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dance(verb)

   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

   Etymology: [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.]

2. Dance(verb)

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

   Etymology: [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.]

3. Dance(verb)

   to cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle

   Etymology: [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.]

4. Dance(verb)

   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

   Etymology: [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.]

5. Dance(verb)

   a tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc

   Etymology: [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.]

Freebase(4.67 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dance

   Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music. It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story. Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans or other animals, as in bee dances and behaviour patterns such as a mating dances. Definitions of what constitutes dance can depend on social and cultural norms and aesthetic, artistic and moral sensibilities. Definitions may range from functional movement to virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Martial arts kata are often compared to dances, and sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are generally thought to incorporate dance. There are many styles and genres of dance. African dance is interpretative. Ballet, ballroom and tango are classical dance styles. Square dance and electric slide are forms of step dance, and breakdancing is a type of street dance. Dance can be participatory, social, or performed for an audience. It can also be ceremonial, competitive or erotic. Dance movements may be without significance in themselves, as in ballet or European folk dance, or have a gestural vocabulary or symbolic meaning as in some Asian dances.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dance

   dans, v.i. to move with measured steps to music: to spring.—v.t. to make to dance or jump.—n. the movement of one or more persons with measured steps to music: the tune to which dancing is performed.—ns. Dance′-mū′sic, music specially arranged for accompanying dancing; Danc′er, one who practises dancing; Danc′ing, the act or art of moving in the dance; Danc′ing-girl, a professional dancer; Danc′ing-mas′ter, a teacher of dancing.—Dance a bear (obs.), to exhibit a performing bear; Dance attendance, to wait obsequiously; Dance of death, a series of allegorical paintings symbolising the universal power of death, represented as a skeleton; Dance upon nothing, to be hanged.—Lead a person a dance, to set him on an undertaking under false hopes: to delude.—Merry dancers, the aurora. [O. Fr. danser, from Teut.; Old High Ger. danson, to draw along.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. DANCE

   A brisk, physical exercise, invented by St. Vitus.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dance

   To move our body to the rhythm of music.

   We love to dance to our favourite music.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 1, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'dance' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3378

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'dance' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3034

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'dance' in Nouns Frequency: #1241

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'dance' in Verbs Frequency: #505

Anagrams for dance »

1. acned, Caden, caned, decan

How to pronounce dance?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say dance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of dance in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of dance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of dance in a Sentence

1. Lois Greenfield:

   I shoot just one moment at a time. ... These moments are beneath the threshold of perception, it's often a moment when (the dancers are) falling, or they're going up, or two people are about to touch or something like that. Those moments are more expressive than the typical dance photo of someone in a perfect position on the ground or in the air.

2. ― William W. Purkey:

   You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.”

3. Scott Nethery:

   Audrey is a happy, loving, smart little girl who loves to dance, listen to music, and collect dolls and stuffed animals, she is incredible, strong, and leaves an impression on everyone she meets.

4. Christopher Walken:

   I'll tell you how that happened. When I was a dancer, Monique Van Vooren had a nightclub act and she uses three guys as backup. She'd sing French and we would dance and provide vocals. She would introduce us at the end of the show and one night she said to me, 'You know, I don't really like ‘Ronnie.' I think you are more ‘Christopher.' Do you mind if I call you Christopher?" I said, "Call me anything you like, just don't call me late for lunch.

5. Wang Zhigang:

   The rigour of vaccine development has been compared by some scientists to a dance involving precise steps and rehearsals.

Images & Illustrations of dance

Popularity rank by frequency of use