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dance

Pronunciation: /dɑːns/

The English word “dance” has 15 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction.
  2. A social gathering where dancing is the main activity.
  3. The art, profession, and study of dancing.
  4. A piece of music with a particular dance rhythm.
  5. A battle of wits, especially one commonly fought between two rivals.
  6. Any strenuous or difficult movement, action, or task.
  7. A repetitive movement used in communication between worker honey bees.
  8. A normally horizontal stripe called a fess that has been modified to zig-zag across the center of a coat of arms from dexter to sinister.

verb

  1. To move with rhythmic steps or movements, especially in time to music.
  2. To leap or move lightly and rapidly.
  3. To perform the steps to.
  4. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about.
  5. To make love or have sex.
  6. To make a repetitive movement in order to communicate to other worker honey bees.
  7. To kick and convulse from the effects of being hanged.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English dauncen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman dauncer, from Vulgar Latin *dantiāre, of uncertain origin. Displaced native Old English sealtian, Old English frīcian, and partially displaced Old English hlēapan (“to leap, dance, run”, whence modern leap). Doublet of danza.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.