rumba
noun
rum·ba ˈrəm-bə 
ˈru̇m-,
ˈrüm-
variants or less commonly rhumba
: a ballroom dance of Cuban origin in ²/₄ or ⁴/₄ time with a basic pattern of step-close-step and marked by a delayed transfer of weight and pronounced hip movements
also : the music for this dance
Example Sentences
The band played a rumba.
Recent Examples on the Web For those 18 and older who love rumba, live music and a DJ will set the scene for a night of dancing from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. 
Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2022 Her curated list of music videos from around the world that lives on her website is an education in global pleasure-seeking, bodily variety and sheer weirdness, with examples of everything from Iraqi heavy metal to Congolese rumba. New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 Shumpert and Karagach followed up the first week with a rumba, and the judges warmed up. Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2021 Next, Brian Austin Green and his partner, girlfriend Sharna Burgess' rumba got a 23 out of 40. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 27 Sep. 2021 Meanwhile, Brian and pro/girlfriend Sharna Burgess did the rumba and were rewarded 23 out of 40 for their score, a point lower than Kenya. Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 3 Oct. 2021 Country star Jimmie Allen danced the rumba to his own song with partner Emma Slater for a 27 out of 40. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 27 Sep. 2021 Tom can quote Rilke and dance the rumba, whip up brunch and a rose-petal bath, but so what? Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2021 Prior to the revolution, Cuba had been a very popular vacation destination for more affluent Americans who brought cha-cha, mambo and rumba music back with them to North America. Julian Voloj, sun-sentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2021 See More
Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2022 Her curated list of music videos from around the world that lives on her website is an education in global pleasure-seeking, bodily variety and sheer weirdness, with examples of everything from Iraqi heavy metal to Congolese rumba. New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 Shumpert and Karagach followed up the first week with a rumba, and the judges warmed up. Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2021 Next, Brian Austin Green and his partner, girlfriend Sharna Burgess' rumba got a 23 out of 40. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 27 Sep. 2021 Meanwhile, Brian and pro/girlfriend Sharna Burgess did the rumba and were rewarded 23 out of 40 for their score, a point lower than Kenya. Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 3 Oct. 2021 Country star Jimmie Allen danced the rumba to his own song with partner Emma Slater for a 27 out of 40. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 27 Sep. 2021 Tom can quote Rilke and dance the rumba, whip up brunch and a rose-petal bath, but so what? Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2021 Prior to the revolution, Cuba had been a very popular vacation destination for more affluent Americans who brought cha-cha, mambo and rumba music back with them to North America. Julian Voloj, sun-sentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
American Spanish
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined above