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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

dance

/dæns/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does dance mean?

noun

  1. A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction.
  2. A social gathering where dancing is the main activity.
  3. The art, profession, and study of dancing.
More meanings (14)

noun

  1. Ellipsis of electronic dance music.
  2. A piece of music with a particular dance rhythm.
  3. (figuratively) A battle of wits, especially one commonly fought between two rivals.
  4. A repetitive movement used in communication between worker honey bees.
  5. A normally horizontal stripe called a fess that has been modified to zig-zag across the center of a coat of arms from dexter to sinister.
  6. (dated, figuratively) Any strenuous or difficult movement, action, or task.

verb

  1. To move with rhythmic steps or movements, especially in time to music.
  2. (figuratively) To leap or move lightly and rapidly.
  3. To perform the steps to.
  4. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about.
  5. (figuratively) To make love or have sex.
  6. To make a repetitive movement in order to communicate to other worker honey bees.
  7. (figuratively) To kick and convulse from the effects of being hanged.

proper noun

  1. A surname.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/dæns/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

“Thanks for the compliment,” said the sergeant gaily, taking Bathsheba by the hand and leading her to the top of the dance.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
He remembered it as a place full of cheap shows and dance halls and boys from the country who were behaving disgustingly.
Willa CatherThe Song of the LarkProject Gutenberg ebook #44
More book examples (3)
The Queen, at the first alarm, stood up on the cushions of the throne and began to dance frantically upon her tiptoes.
L. Frank (Lyman Frank) BaumThe Marvelous Land of OzProject Gutenberg ebook #54
Every living soul within sound of her notes strained their nerves to sit still and let only their hearts dance with her.
Gene Stratton-PorterA Girl of the LimberlostProject Gutenberg ebook #125
“No more than is natural to a man who in an hour or so is to dance the cotillon with Miss Light.”
Henry JamesRoderick HudsonProject Gutenberg ebook #176