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to move one’s feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.
to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly:
to dance with joy.
to bob up and down:
The toy sailboats danced on the pond.
to perform or take part in (a dance):
to dance a waltz.
to cause to dance:
He danced her around the ballroom.
to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing:
She danced her way to stardom.
a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
an act or round of dancing; set:
May I have this dance?
the art of dancing:
to study dance.
a social gathering or party for dancing; ball:
Was he invited to the dance?
a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing:
He liked the composer’s country dances.
Animal Behavior. a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.
the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional before an audience.
dance attendance. (def 3).
dance on air, Slang. to be hanged.
dance to another tune, to change one’s behavior, attitudes, etc.
Contemporary Examples

Toward the back of the dance floor, Britney Spears and Gaga were sitting in opposite booths.
The Grammys’ Money Shot Jacob Bernstein January 31, 2010

Well, it just so happens that Upton was doing the dance in a “barely there” bikini, making it “too hot” for YouTube.
Kate Upton, Justin Bieber, and More Stars Who ‘Cat Daddy’ (VIDEO) Brittany Jones-Cooper May 1, 2012

They sing, dance, laugh, ride bicycles, marry, play instruments, and eat.
Secrets of Día de los Muertos Ana Sofia Pelaez October 26, 2009

There are songs that are straight-up pop records, songs that have a lot of depth, some dance, some acoustic.
Backstreet’s Back! The Backstreet Boys on 20 Years, New Album, BSB Cruise, and More Marlow Stern June 27, 2013

A Halloween dance at the hospital is considered a success because “no one got punched or stabbed.”
Inside a Hospital for the Criminally Insane Caitlin Dickson September 14, 2014

Historical Examples

I could not describe the dance even if I had watched it, which I did not.
The Scalp Hunters Mayne Reid

If he had known it, it was with the dance of Death on the bridge of Lucerne.
The Armourer’s Prentices Charlotte M. Yonge

And there was a lot of talk and laughin’ and they began to dance.
Mitch Miller Edgar Lee Masters

Three times did he repeat this song, and as often did he encircle the post in his dance.
The Last of the Mohicans James Fenimore Cooper

If point had not stopped to dance and rub his leg, the wicket must have fallen.
The Idler Magazine, Volume III, June 1893 Various

verb
(intransitive) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
(transitive) to perform (a particular dance)
(intransitive) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
dance attendance on someone, to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously
noun
a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music related adjective Terpsichorean
an act of dancing

a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
(as modifier): a dance hall

a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
short for dance music (sense 2)
dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
(Brit, informal) lead someone a dance, to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up
v.

c.1300, from Old French dancier (12c., Modern French danser), of unknown origin, perhaps from Low Frankish *dintjan and akin to Old Frisian dintje “tremble, quiver.” A word of uncertain origin but which, through French influence in arts and society, has become the primary word for this activity from Spain to Russia (e.g. Italian danzare, Spanish danzar, Rumanian dansa, Swedish dansa, German tanzen).

In part the loanword from French is used mainly with reference to fashionable dancing while the older native word persists in use with reference to folk-dancing, as definitively Russ. pljasat’ vs. tancovat’ [Buck].

Replaced Old English sealtian, itself a borrowing from Latin saltare “to dance,” frequentative of salire “to leap” (see salient (adj.); “dance” words frequently are derived from words meaning “jump, leap”). Related: Danced; dancing.

It is strange, and will, I am sure, appear to my readers almost incredible, that as far as I have ever read, there is no reference that can be identified as containing a clear allusion to dancing in any of our really ancient MS. books. [Eugene O’Curry, “On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,” vol. 2, p.406, 1873]

n.

c.1300, from dance (v.).

noun

A fight between rival gangs; rumble: The kids have plenty of time for pushing a dance (1940s+ Street gang)

Related Terms

get the last dance, go into one’s dance, song and dance, tap dance

found in Judg. 21:21, 23; Ps. 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jer. 31:4, 13, etc., as the translation of _hul_, which points to the whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering of a word (rakad’) which means to skip or leap for joy, in Eccl. 3:4; Job 21:11; Isa. 13:21, etc. In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of different Greek words, circular motion (Luke 15:25); leaping up and down in concert (Matt. 11:17), and by a single person (Matt. 14:6). It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Eccl. 3:4. Comp. Ps. 30:11; Matt. 11: 17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were usually females (Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6). The ancient dance was very different from that common among Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; comp. 5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David’s conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:14). The women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should, in accordance with the example of Miriam and others, have herself led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion and “looking through the window.” David led the choir “uncovered”, i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself. From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on occasions of rejoicing (Jer. 31:4). The sexes among the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone (Matt. 14:6).

dance attendance on
dance to another tune

also see:

lead a chase (dance)
song and dance