rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydanceRhythmic movement
noun / verb

dance

DANS/dˈæns/

Patterned bodily movement, usually to music.

The older woman dances to the music of the young guitarist.

An older woman dances beside a young adult guitarist, her lifted heel, bent knees, turning torso and expressive arms visibly responding to live music.
Etymology
danceOld Frenchto dance

Old French dancier already named dancing, and English retained the sense of moving rhythmically to music. Its deeper origin is unknown, so no earlier image can be securely identified.

In context

Disney Jr. 0:57
Move side to side. Jump to the left. Then let's collide. Zigzag >> [music] >> across the floor. Shuffle and dance some more.
Mickey's Country Farm "Hoedown Throwdown" Song! 🐴👢 | @disneyjr

More examples

  • She teaches us the steps of a traditional dance.
  • We danced together at my sister's wedding.
  • He's nervous about going to his first school dance.

Forms

dance · dances · danced · dancing

dancer noun — A person who dances, especially professionally.

Similar words

boogie
Informal term for dancing energetically, especially to popular music.
sway
Means rocking gently from side to side, sometimes to music.