See Also: dance(medicine)
dance(2)(dictionary)
tap dance(encyclopedia)
dance(1)(dictionary)
sun dance(encyclopedia)
dance(encyclopedia)
war dance(dictionary)
square dance(encyclopedia)
rain dance(encyclopedia)
sword dance(encyclopedia)

dance(1) (iou)



dance noun. [d¨»:ns] ME.
[Old & mod. French dance, (also mod.) danse, formed as DANCE verb.]
The action or an act of dancing; a single round or turn of dancing; the art or practice of dancing. ME.
An arrangement of steps and movements constituting a specific form of dancing, often given a particular name. LME.
ballroom dance, barn dance, clog-dance, country dance, Highland dance, morris dance, square dance, sword dance, tap-dance, war dance, etc.
b. A musical composition for dancing to or in a rhythm suitable for dancing to. E16.
A social gathering for the purpose of dancing. LME.
dinner-dance, tea dance, etc.
fig. A course of action, a proceeding; a game. Now only in set phrs. below. LME.
A genre of popular music which is largely or wholly synthesized, has a repetitive beat, few or no lyrics, and freq. incorporates sound samples. L20.
Phrases: begin the dance fig. take the lead in a course of action. dance macabre: see MACABRE noun. Dance of Death an allegorical representation of Death leading people of all conditions in the dance to the grave, popular in the Middle Ages; = DANSE MACABRE. dance of macabre: see MACABRE adjective. lead a person a dance, lead a person a merry dance cause a person a lot of trouble esp. by leading him or her on a lengthy pointless course. lead the dance = begin the dance above. song and dance: see SONG noun1. St Vitus's dance, St Vitus' dance: see SAINT noun & adjective. waggle dance: see WAGGLE noun.
Comb.: dance band a band that plays music (suitable) for dancing to; dance-card a card bearing the names of (a woman's) prospective partners at a dance; dance-drama a drama in which all the action is expressed by dancing; dance floor a usu. uncarpeted area of flooring reserved for dancing; dancehall (orig. US) a place where public dances are held; dance hostess (a) a woman who holds a dance at her house etc.; (b) a woman dancing-partner (see dancing-partner (b) s.v. DANCING verbal noun); dance-house (chiefly US) a dancehall; dance programme a dance-card.