dance
dance
Pronunciation
/dæns/.
dance
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: dance (e.g., "We went to a dance last night.")
Plural: dances (e.g., "They learned many different dances.")
As a Verb:
Base Form/Infinitive: dance (e.g., "I like to dance.")
Third Person Singular Present: dances (e.g., "She dances beautifully.")
Present Participle: dancing (e.g., "They are dancing now." or "He enjoys dancing.")
Past Simple: danced (e.g., "We danced all night.")
Past Participle: danced (e.g., "They have danced together many times.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A sequence of rhythmic steps and movements, often performed to music, either as a form of social recreation, artistic expression, or cultural ritual.
Synonyms: jig, boogie, foxtrot, waltz, tango, performance, routine, choreography
Antonyms: stillness, immobility, pause, halt (these are not direct antonyms of a specific dance, but rather of the act of dancing)
Definition 2: A social gathering or event where people participate in dancing.
Synonyms: ball, disco, prom, cotillion, ceilidh, hoedown, party
Antonyms: solitude, isolation (referring to the absence of a gathering)
Definition 3: The art form or practice of moving the body rhythmically, often to music.
Synonyms: choreography, ballet, modern dance, tap dance, art of movement
Antonyms: stasis, inactivity (referring to the absence of movement as an art)
Verb
Definition 1: To move the body rhythmically and expressively, typically to music, for enjoyment, performance, or ritual.
Synonyms: boogie, jive, sway, twirl, groove, gyrate, skip, prance
Antonyms: stand still, remain motionless, stop, halt
Definition 2: To perform a particular type of dance.
Synonyms: waltz, tango, cha-cha, hip-hop, ballet, tap (when used transitively, e.g., "She danced the waltz.")
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, usually implies not performing that specific dance, not a direct antonym)
Definition 3: (Figurative) To move in a light, lively, or often erratic way.
Synonyms: flutter, skip, flit, dart, shimmer, bob, bounce
Antonyms: settle, steady, stand still, rooted
Adjective
Definition: Pertaining to, designed for, or associated with dancing.
Examples: dance music, dance shoes, dance hall, dance studio
Synonyms: rhythmic, choreographic, kinetic, terpsichorean
Antonyms: static, stationary, still, unmoving (referring to things not related to movement)
Examples of Use
Books:
"There was a dance in her eyes as she spoke of the upcoming festival, a reflection of the joy she felt." (Figurative use, implying lively movement, from a fictional novel)
"He had learned to dance the tango in a small studio in Buenos Aires, a skill that now served him well on the cruise ship." (Literal verb use, indicating a specific dance style, from a travel memoir)
"The elaborate costumes and intricate choreography were essential elements of the classical ballet dance." (Noun use, referring to the art form, from a non-fiction book on performance arts)
Newspapers:
"Local schools will host their annual spring dances next month, inviting students and their families for an evening of community fun." ("Daily Herald,")
"The minister called for an end to the political 'song and dance' over the new budget proposal, urging instead for concrete action." ("The Standard,")
"Renowned choreographer unveils a new piece exploring the human condition through contemporary dance." ("The New York Times,")
Online Publications:
"Experts weigh in on the latest TikTok dance craze that has swept across the globe, analyzing its cultural impact." (TechCrunch.com)
"How to dance at a wedding without feeling awkward: A step-by-step guide for beginners." (Lifehacker.com)
"The unexpected link between quantum physics and the chaotic dance of subatomic particles." (Scientific American online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Shall We Dance?" (Title of a popular movie, verb use)
Music: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" (Song title by Whitney Houston, verb use)
Television: "So You Think You Can Dance?" (Title of a reality competition show, verb use)
Video Games: Many video games feature "emote" or "celebration" options where characters can perform various dances. (e.g., Fortnite, "Dance Moves" emote)
Theatre/Live Performance: "The Nutcracker" is a classic ballet dance performance, often staged during the holiday season. (Noun use)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's dance!" (Common exclamation to initiate dancing or celebrate a success)
"It's a delicate dance between work and personal life to maintain balance." (Figurative use, implying a careful back-and-forth or negotiation)
"Did you go to the school dance last night?" (Common question among students about a social event)
"He really knows how to dance around the issue without giving a direct answer." (Figurative verb use, meaning to avoid directly addressing something)
"The children loved to dance in the rain." (Simple, literal verb use)
10 Famous Quotes Using Dance
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"Life is the dancer and you are the dance." (Eckhart Tolle)
"We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening, and live like it's heaven on earth." (Attributed to William W. Purkey, sometimes others)
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion." (Martha Graham)
"Let us read and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." (Voltaire)
"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." (Agnes De Mille)
"Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order." (Samuel Beckett)
"The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word." (Mata Hari)
"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dance is one of them." (Vicki Baum)
Etymology
The word "dance" came into English around the year 1300. It entered our language from Old French, where it was "dancier" (and in modern French, it's "danser").
Interestingly, the exact origin of this Old French word is a bit of a mystery! Some language experts think it might come from an older Germanic language, specifically something like "dintjan" in Low Frankish, which meant "to tremble" or "to quiver." This makes sense, as dancing often involves lively, shaking movements.
Before "dance" arrived, English had its own words for similar activities, like "sealtian" (from Latin, meaning "to leap") and "hoppian" (which is where our word "hop" comes from). But the French "dancier" became the dominant term, especially for more formal or fashionable dancing, while the older native words stuck around for things like folk dancing.
So, in short, "dance" is a word we borrowed from French about 700 years ago, and its earliest known meaning was to "move the body or feet rhythmically to music." It likely has even older roots in words describing trembling or leaping movements.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dance
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "dance":
Dance attendance (on someone): To try hard to please someone by doing everything they want.
Dance around a subject/issue: To avoid directly addressing a topic.
Dance on air: To feel extremely happy.
Dance to someone's tune: To do what someone else wants or tells you to do.
Lead someone a merry dance: To cause someone a lot of trouble or to make them do a lot of things.
The dance of diplomacy: The intricate and often subtle negotiations involved in international relations.
The last dance: The final song played at a ball or party, or metaphorically, the end of something.
A song and dance: An elaborate and often deceptive explanation or excuse.
To dance with death: To engage in a very risky activity.
Dance with the devil: To engage in morally questionable or dangerous activities.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dance from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
