DANCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dance mean? 

• DANCE (noun)
  The noun DANCE has 4 senses:

1. an artistic form of nonverbal communication

2. a party of people assembled for dancing

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

4. a party for social dancing

  Familiarity information: DANCE used as a noun is uncommon.

• DANCE (verb)
  The verb DANCE has 3 senses:

1. move in a graceful and rhythmical way

2. move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance

3. skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways

  Familiarity information: DANCE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DANCE (noun)

Sense 1

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 2

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore

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

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

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Domain member category:

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

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

jive (dance to jive music; dance the jive)

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

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)

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

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

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)

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)

Derivation:

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

Sense 4

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"):

barn dance (a dance party featuring country dancing)

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

ball; formal (a lavish dance requiring formal attire)

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

Derivation:

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

• DANCE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dance    ... he / she / it dances   
Past simple: danced   
Past participle: danced   
-ing form: dancing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move in a graceful and rhythmical way

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The young girl danced into the room

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 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

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

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"):

jig (dance a quick dance with leaping and kicking motions)

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)

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)

bebop; bop (dance the bebop)

conga (dance the conga)

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)

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)

samba (dance the samba)

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 3

Meaning:

Skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The children danced with joy

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

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

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing, Catherine was left to the mercy of Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Allen, between whom she now remained.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Louder it seemed to ring in my ears, and the floating motes of dust to take new shapes to the sound as they danced in the moonlight.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Comin' to the dance to-night?" the other called after him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

They danced on till three o’clock in the morning, and then all their shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave off.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

As he spoke his face was very grave, but the light in his eyes danced and gleamed.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At the conclusion of the proceedings the tables were cleared as if by art-magic for dancing.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She gave me a quick look, and again I caught that dancing, tremulous light and something more in her eyes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

William's desire of seeing Fanny dance made more than a momentary impression on his uncle.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She judged it to be a form of St. Vitus's dance, and she feared the extent to which its ravages might go.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But here was a dog that kept at a distance, dancing and dodging here and there and all about.

(White Fang, by Jack London)