Library / English Dictionary

DANCING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

Synonyms:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("dancing" is a kind of...):

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Domain member category:

tap dance (perform a tap dance)

clog (dance a clog dance)

belly dance (perform a belly dance)

heel (perform with the heels)

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

jive (dance to jive music; dance the jive)

busker (a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money)

tap (a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing))

sidestep (a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dancing"):

ceremonial dance; ritual dance; ritual dancing (a dance that is part of a religious ritual)

mambo (a Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba)

social dancing (dancing as part of a social occasion)

pas de quatre ((ballet) a dance for four people)

pas de trois ((ballet) a dance for three people)

duet; pas de deux ((ballet) a dance for two people (usually a ballerina and a danseur noble))

pas seul; variation ((ballet) a solo dance or dance figure)

choreography; stage dancing (a show involving artistic dancing)

toe dance; toe dancing (a dance performed on tiptoe)

hoofing; step dancing (dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures)

slam dance; slam dancing (a form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rock)

skank (a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees)

saraband (a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow time)

phrase (dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence)

pavan; pavane (a stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries)

nauch; nautch; nautch dance (an intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls)

courante (a court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreats)

break dance; break dancing (a form of solo dancing that involves rapid acrobatic moves in which different parts of the body touch the ground; normally performed to the rhythm of rap music)

adagio (a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers)

Derivation:

dance (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

-ing form of the verb dance

Credits

 Context examples: 

But the big Dutchman frustrated him, seizing him by the nape of the neck and dancing him up and down.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Last night, or rather this morning, I was dancing till two o'clock.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It looks like you will be dancing in the streets when the news arrives.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He answered rather hesitatingly, Yes, I believe I do; very much recovered; but she is altered; there is no running or jumping about, no laughing or dancing; it is quite different.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Nystagmus - fast, uncontrollable movements of the eyes, sometimes called "dancing eyes".

(Eye Movement Disorders, NIH)

We returned to our college on a Sunday afternoon: the peasants were dancing, and every one we met appeared gay and happy.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His face was pale and handsome, with a prominent chin, a jutting nose, and large blue staring eyes, in which a sort of dancing, mischievous light was for ever playing.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

What else could that expression have meant—that dancing, tremulous light, and a something more which words could not describe.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

For all the world, I was led like a dancing bear.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Then the wedding was solemnized with young Mr Fox, and there was much rejoicing and dancing; and if they have not left off, they are dancing still.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)