'Dance' definitions:

Definition of 'dance'

(from WordNet)
noun
An artistic form of nonverbal communication
noun
A party of people assembled for dancing
noun
Taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music [syn: dancing, dance, terpsichore, saltation]
noun
A party for social dancing
verb
Move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl danced into the room"
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" [syn: dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe]
verb
Skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy"

Definition of 'Dance'

From: GCIDE
  • Dance \Dance\ (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced; p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dans[=o]n to draw; akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. apinsan, and prob. from the same root (meaning to stretch) as E. thin. See Thin.]
  • 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 rhythmically. [1913 Webster]
  • Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. --Wither. [1913 Webster]
  • Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your daughter? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about. [1913 Webster]
  • Then, 'tis time to dance off. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • More dances my rapt heart Than when I first my wedded mistress saw. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Shadows in the glassy waters dance. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
  • Where rivulets dance their wayward round. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
  • To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Dance'

From: GCIDE
  • Dance \Dance\, v. t. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle. [1913 Webster]
  • To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced thee on his knee. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a view to please or gain favor. [1913 Webster]
  • A man of his place, and so near our favor, To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Dance'

From: GCIDE
  • Dance \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v. i.]
  • 1. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of many proceedings besides dancing. [1913 Webster]
  • Of remedies of love she knew parchance For of that art she couth the olde dance. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high, and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.
  • Morris dance. See Morris.
  • To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a dance not understood. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'dance'

From: Easton
  • Dance found in Judg. 21:21, 23; Ps. 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jer. 31:4, 13, etc., as the translation of _hul_, which points to the whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering of a word (rakad') which means to skip or leap for joy, in Eccl. 3:4; Job 21:11; Isa. 13:21, etc.
  • In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of different Greek words, circular motion (Luke 15:25); leaping up and down in concert (Matt. 11:17), and by a single person (Matt. 14:6).
  • It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Eccl. 3:4. Comp. Ps. 30:11; Matt. 11: 17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were usually females (Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6).
  • The ancient dance was very different from that common among Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; comp. 5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David's conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:14). The women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should, in accordance with the example of Miriam and others, have herself led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion and "looking through the window." David led the choir "uncovered", i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself.
  • From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on occasions of rejoicing (Jer. 31:4). The sexes among the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone (Matt. 14:6).

Synonyms of 'dance'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Dance'