dancedance2 ●●● S2 W3 verb 
Come on, let’s dance.dance to They danced to Ruby Newman’s orchestra (=the orchestra was playing).dance with The bride danced with her father.dance a waltz/rumba/tango etc2[intransitive, transitive] to dance in performances, especially in ballet: He danced with the Boston Repertory Ballet. Nakamura dances several solos in this production.3[intransitive] literary to move up, down, and around quickly: Pink and white balloons danced in the wind.4dance to somebody’s tune to do what someone wants you to do – used to show disapproval: At that time, Eastern bloc countries danced to the Soviet tune.5dance attendance on somebody to do everything possible in order to please someone: a movie star with several young men dancing attendance on her—dancing noun [uncountable]: the beauty of her dancing
WORD ORIGINdance2
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French dancierVERB TABLE
dance
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | dance |
| he, she, it | dances | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | danced |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have danced |
| he, she, it | has danced | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had danced |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will dance |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have danced |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am dancing |
| he, she, it | is dancing | |
| you, we, they | are dancing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was dancing |
| you, we, they | were dancing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been dancing |
| he, she, it | has been dancing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been dancing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be dancing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been dancing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Everyone got up and danced.
- I have an old photo of my parents dancing a waltz.
- If you like dancing to drum and bass, come to the Coven on Saturday night.
- Nakamura danced several solos in the "Nutcracker Suite."
- She danced with the San Francisco Ballet for six years.
- The disco starts at 11pm so you can dance the night away.
- Will you dance with me?
- A party of enthusiasts danced a quadrille on a flat rock near the middle of the stream.
- He doesn't dance on his own for long.
- She danced and danced, at one point passing by the funeral of the kind old woman.
- She had arrived with her parents some time ago but seemed to be dancing with a matador.
- She only wanted him to go on dancing till he dropped.
- They dance off into the cosmos.
- They responded by dancing with their tongues tucked happily into their cheeks.
- Two or three couples began to dance.
Longman Language Activatorto dance
to move your body in time to music, for example at a social event or as part of a performance: · Everyone got up and danced.dance with: · Will you dance with me?dance to: · If you like dancing to drum and bass, come to the Coven on Saturday night.dance the night away (=dance all night): · The disco starts at 11pm so you can dance the night away.dance the waltz/the tango/the twist etc (=dance a particular kind of dance): · I have an old photo of my parents dancing a waltz.
the activity of moving your feet and body to music: · My boyfriend doesn't like dancing.· There was music, Scottish dancing, and lots of food.go dancing (=go somewhere in order to dance): · Mum and Dad used to go dancing every Friday night.
to do a particular kind of dance: · She got up and did a little dance.· The tribespeople did a special dance, which they said would bring rain.do the waltz/the tango/the twist etc: · Can you do the twist?
a set of movements performed to a particular type of music a set of movements that you do to a particular kind of music: · I prefer old-fashioned dances like the waltz or the tango.folk dance (=a traditional dance): · Hungarian folk dancesdance craze (=a style of dance that is very popular for a short time): · The surprise hit of that summer was 'Macarena', which was also a dance craze.
the movements you make with your feet as part of a particular dance: · Can you show me the right steps for this dance?· I'd like to dance but I don't know the steps.dance steps: · It took me ages to get right some of the more complicated dance steps.
someone who dances someone who dances, either because it is their job or for enjoyment: · I'm not a very good dancer.· a world famous dancerballet/belly/break etc dancer: · The ballet dancer, Rudolph Nureyev, died at the age of fifty-four.
another person that you dance with: · When I saw her again, she was dancing with a different partner.· Try not to step on your partner's toes.
a social event where people dance an organized social event where people go to dance: · Do you want to go to the dance on Saturday night?hold a dance (=organize a dance): · Dances used to be held in the church hall at least once a month.dinner dance (=a formal event with dinner and dancing): · The Society are holding their 15th anniversary dinner dance at the Broomshill Hotel.
a place where people go at night to dance to loud popular music: · I met some friends at a party and then we went on to a club.go clubbing (=go to one or more clubs): · If you want to go clubbing, London's the place to be.
a place or fairly informal social event where people dance to popular music: · Nick met Rachel at a disco when she was 17 years old.· It was a small seaside town with a couple of bars and one shabby-looking disco.
a formal social event at which people dance and wear formal clothes: · It was the first time I'd ever been invited to a ball.hold a ball: · The University holds a summer ball at the end of June.
a social event for high school students in the US where there is music and dancing, and that people usually go to with a partner: · Joey walked me home after the prom.high school prom: · The band first played together at a high school prom.
to invent a set of movements or steps to be used in a dance · She has been asked to choreograph a modern ballet for the National Dance Theatre.· There were some fabulous, beautifully choreographed dance routines.
the art of inventing steps and movements and combining them into a dance: · She studied choreography at the Royal School of Ballet.· The splendid choreography was by Ann-Marie Brady.
someone who invents the movements or steps to be used in a dance: · McKayle was considered the leading black modern dance choreographer of his day.
WORD SETSarabesque, nounballerina, nounballet, nounballet dancer, nounballroom, nounballroom dancing, nounbelly dance, nounbolero, nounboogie, verbbop, verbbop, nounbossanova, nounbreakdancing, nouncabaret, nouncancan, nouncha-cha, nounchoreograph, verbchoreography, nounchorus, nounconga, nouncountry dancing, noundance, noundance, verbdo-si-do, nounexotic dancer, nounflamenco, nounfloor show, nounfolk dance, nounfootwork, nounfoxtrot, noungo-go dancer, nounhoofer, nounhornpipe, nounhula, nounjig, nounjitterbug, nounjive, nounjive, verblambada, nounminuet, nounmorris dancing, nounpas de deux, nounpirouette, nounpolka, nounprima ballerina, nounquadrille, nounquickstep, nounreel, nounroutine, nounrumba, nounsalsa, nounsamba, nounsquare dance, nounstep, nounstudio, nountango, nountango, verbtap, nountap dancing, nountarantella, nountwo-step, nounwaltz, nounwaltz, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The jogging craze began in the 1970s. I’m wearing a scarlet dress to the party.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· Greg won the school public-speaking competition.
· Each year there is a contemporary music festival in November.
The jogging craze began in the 1970s.· The movie won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.
(=they show that someone wants to cause trouble, play tricks etc)· Leo nodded, his eyes shining with mischief.
· The DJ played some bouncy dance tunes.
I’m wearing a scarlet dress to the party.· Now I come to think about it, that pesky Lad was dancing about somewhere outside.· When I still refused, they gave their war cry and began dancing about to frighten me.· He lit a cigarette and gazed at the page of his book until the printed words ceased to dance about.· Then I just forgot about dancing for good.· It danced about briefly on my retinas, then disappeared.· The light danced about, we were above the thin cloud line and suddenly my pains had gone.· They also dance about possible new nest sites, and about water sources when water is needed to cool down the nest.· His opponent was dancing about in a neutral corner, one eye on his quarry.
· Ben danced around them, still barking.· He'd watch him dance around the room emitting stifled screams.· I remember several moments when the trumpets played and rays of heavenly light danced around my children's heads.· He danced around the area, shaking an Ascon, a gourd filled with snake vertebrae.
· It moved sinuously, dancing round its adversary, thrusting with a slender spear and protecting itself gracefully with a brightly-polished shield.· I used to dance round them and sing at the top of my voice.· Those watching joined hands and danced round the bonfire amid an air of frenzied excitement.· The day will include dancing round the maypole by Stokesley Primary School.· He could hardly dance round with him too, so he had allowed the Duke one stately dance and then reclaimed him.· They made their fire on the sand and danced round it.· She danced round the bigger girl, getting a few scratches down the back of her suit, even drawing some blood.· You dance round and round in a circle until ... Well, everybody knows what happens in the end.
· He finds bands to dance to.
· It was natural to dance together.· Just a minute ago we were dancing together.· For a start, I smelt your spoor on her when we danced together at the wedding.· I think we not only have enjoyed dancing together but have both been stalling because we are kind of scared.· We had danced together at the Music Box while her boyfriend was away at college.· We went to the dance floor and danced together, the three of us.· On the other hand, I remember seeing them dancing together at a ball shortly before the birth of Prince William.· We first danced together under Jeff Ritcher back in the seventies.
NOUN· First ballroom dancing, then golf, then polo and now chess.· If a man has a weakness, besides an apprehension of people who enjoy ballroom dancing, it is gadgets.· The children were encouraged to take ballroom and folk dancing as part of their physical training curriculum.
· The Stanford crowd surges on to the floor, waving banners, dancing to the band, inching forward to high-five the players.· From three strategically located stages, well-known musical groups provide a dancing beat while roving bands serenade the crowd.
· My belly danced with fear, in spite of the food I had just eaten.
· As large a group as can fit has gathered in the available floor space to dance.
· The children were encouraged to take ballroom and folk dancing as part of their physical training curriculum.· Each evening at Skei there will special events such as folk dancing.· Although traditional, these instruments are still used to accompany folk dances today.· Similarly, she arranged and encouraged folk dancing groups in the town, monthly reading circles and visits to theatres.· The participants in folk dance can and certainly do show elation.
· It's very hard to ask the girl you adore to dance if you know your hands are running like taps.· The king surmised the girls were dancing their shoes to bits and put out a general announcement to the kingdom.· Yet it is the head movements of the young girl as she dances to Pie Jesu that are so telling.· That night he went again and watched six girls dance in the moonlight.· Dangerfield selected the thinnest girl and began dancing a waltz to the hymn-tune.· A girl his age was dancing a jig to the music.· A couple of girls danced enthusiastically and several others tapped their feet.· Soon all the girls were dancing.
· The images swirled and danced in her head like figures around a maypole.· Some managers come away from virtual reality demonstrations with unhealthy visions of holograms dancing in their heads.· And though these weep Over our harms, who's to know Where their feet dance while their heads sleep?· With visions of organ-pipe fruit dancing in our heads, we nod off with giant Kino Peak looming nearby.· Then the stumbling run across the car park, the lights dancing wildly inside his head.· She had the oddest desire to touch the dark curls that danced on his head.· It is a bit like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
· Gary Sheffield and Charles Johnson were leading a line of dancing players upon the podium.
· Through shouts and music and dancing we worship the Goddess with joyous bodies.· There was no music, just dancing.· I admired and understood his music and we danced very well together.· From the other side of the footlights, Mulcahey could hear the murmuring beneath the noise of the music and the dancing.· Almost always the crossing of boundaries between the sexes occurred during ecstatic rites involving loud music and wild dancing processions.
· Some nights I dance, but when I am in Cannes then I can detect.· For three days and nights she danced in the streets with the crowd.· They were also expected to work as crew or technicians even on nights they danced.· But even they would be shocked at the idea of staying up all night dancing or taking drugs.· One night, the dancing seemed to roll up like a wave and crash into our table.· The bride, rising higher and higher out of her wedding dress as the night went on, danced all by herself.
· But I don't want to sing about football results or importune people to dance.· Then she sat down upon a settee and watched the people dance.· The people with her neither danced nor sang.· The Hyatt Regency walkways collapsed while several hundred people were dancing on them.· The floor had collapsed - people danced a good deal harder in those days, as the Secretary of State will no doubt remember.· I remembered the people dancing in the streets when the dictator Ershad was deposed in 1990.· In dance halls people were dancing the shimmy, the fox-trot, the Charleston.
· But what may have been problematic to the feet was pure pleasure to the ear, more languid song than lilting dance.· Despite the wealth of songs and the dancing, despite the sacred rituals, the culture is fragile.· See what the bridge was like, the one in the children's song where people were dancing and singing for ever.· The first is a mixed bag of songs and dances, only a couple associated with Rivera.· This theme has a curious persistence, but one does not need a song and dance about it.· They sang songs and danced in the temporary bleachers.
· Why did he get the feeling that he and Egbert were dancing to a tune?· She was dancing to his tune a little too, and she was uneasily aware of it.· This is how I like things - me pulling the strings, getting them to dance to my tune.· But now it dances to a different tune.· Now he danced to Kirov's tune, without knowing the steps.· Everyone was in a circle now, dancing to a rollicking tune played by the small band, and changing partners.· On the surface all is well; but the steps taken are danced to a different tune.· You must learn to flow with your experience, not make others dance to your tune.
· That woman he had danced with.· Each time the music began half a dozen unsteady men wandered through the restaurant asking the women to dance.· The women who danced were beautiful.· One of them opened up on the table rather too naturally to reveal a beautiful woman dancing in the streets of Rio.· The woman danced, short and squat, alone behind her closed eyes.· And in the village of Marlott, following ancient custom, the young women gathered to dance every holiday.· One of the women danced on top of three tables.
VERB· Each time the music began half a dozen unsteady men wandered through the restaurant asking the women to dance.· I saw a blond librarian ask him to dance and begin a thing with him.· That was the first thing that struck me when I asked you to dance.· A guy Susan knows comes by, and asks her to dance.· He asked me to dance but I said I couldn't.· I started to ask her to dance and changed my mind.· Maggie, Natasha and the rest of the girls went into the hall together and immediately Moira was asked to dance.· How does a mythical figure ask a lady to dance?
· They have begun to dance a strange dance.· As she talked, she began to dance for him.· Thus linked, with her weapons neutralised, the pair begin to dance.· He was getting dressed when the building rumbled and the bedroom furniture began to dance.· Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, chose his own partner too, and began to dance.· When I still refused, they gave their war cry and began dancing about to frighten me.· And began to dance; the embrace turned into a dance.· Finally, an hour late, they arrived, and everyone began dancing.
· Apparently the ballerina Pavlova came here to learn to dance like a swan for the ballet Swan Lake.· I soon learned to dance, beginning with other girls as partners.· If the rug is pulled from beneath your feet, learn to dance on a shifting carpet.
· He neither sang nor danced, but with his six or seven years could already dominate both the public and his brothers.· The people roused the protector spirit of the sun, Nga Bal, by singing, dancing, and playing their instruments.· It's more than being able to sing and dance.· But a play interspersed with singing and dancing.· But Lady Macbeth and Portia were not called upon to sing and dance.· They sang and shouted and danced and prayed and raised their hands in thanksgiving.· There was I, singing and dancing all over the place.· He sings and dances to that one along with Mark Harmon, Curtis-Hall and Elizondo.
· Yesterday, he wrote, it started to dance for me again.· A rock group record had replaced the melancholy singers, and a few couples had started to dance.· She has a large whisky and ginger and starts to dance again.· Across the bleachers, the Oregon band puts down its instruments and starts dancing in the aisles.· Some folks in the back have even started to dance.
· The young kids want to dance and have fun, they don't want all heavy stuff.· This was not because I didn't want to dance but because I had not yet learned how to do it properly.· Then he asked Primo if he wanted to dance with Deedee and Primo said no.· He wanted to dance, but could see no opportunity of so doing.· He wanted to dance with her all night.· A young female wants to dance and enjoy herself, I know.· I wanted to dance with him and celebrate the renewal of our friendship.
· Then she sat down upon a settee and watched the people dance.· Lustful travellers came from all over the world to watch him dance, naked except for a silk cap atop his curls.· I kept watching you dancing out there.· As a solitary concession, non-Brahmins were permitted to watch them dance.· In California Plaza, you can dine while watching the dancing fountain.· He'd watch him dance around the room emitting stifled screams.· That night he went again and watched six girls dance in the moonlight.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► lead somebody a merry old dance/a right old dance
1[intransitive, transitive] to move your feet and body in a way that matches the style and speed of music: - They control all the funding so we have to dance to their tune.
- But now it dances to a different tune.
- Everyone was in a circle now, dancing to a rollicking tune played by the small band, and changing partners.
- Mandeville and Santerre had arrived at Templecombe wanting to make everyone dance to their tune.
- Now he danced to Kirov's tune, without knowing the steps.
- She had to stay on her best behaviour and dance to his tune.
- She was dancing to his tune a little too, and she was uneasily aware of it.
- This is how I like things - me pulling the strings, getting them to dance to my tune.
- Why did he get the feeling that he and Egbert were dancing to a tune?
- Doctor Agrippa, who surprisingly had kept well out of our way, now came to dance attendance on us.
- Barney, he had these two sons - tried to set up a song and dance act.
- But to the children of Gloucestershire, it's just making a song and dance about having fun.
- I think most conductors would have stopped and made a song and dance.
- If she had wanted to stay she'd have made a song and dance, but it was better to move.
- Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it.
- This theme has a curious persistence, but one does not need a song and dance about it.
- She danced up a storm at an Alexandria, Va., club where the Desperadoes played right after the election.
- They are blowing trumpets singing up a storm and waving as they walk past us.
Come on, let’s dance.dance to They danced to Ruby Newman’s orchestra (=the orchestra was playing).dance with The bride danced with her father.dance a waltz/rumba/tango etc2[intransitive, transitive] to dance in performances, especially in ballet: He danced with the Boston Repertory Ballet. Nakamura dances several solos in this production.3[intransitive] literary to move up, down, and around quickly: Pink and white balloons danced in the wind.4dance to somebody’s tune to do what someone wants you to do – used to show disapproval: At that time, Eastern bloc countries danced to the Soviet tune.5dance attendance on somebody to do everything possible in order to please someone: a movie star with several young men dancing attendance on her—dancing noun [uncountable]: the beauty of her dancing