dɑ:ns v. & n. --v. 1 intr.
move about rhythmically
alone or
with a
partner or in a set, usu. in fixed steps or sequences to
music,
for pleasure or as
entertainment. 2 intr. move in a
lively way; skip or
jump about. 3 tr. a
perform (a specified dance or
form of dancing). b perform (a specified role) in a
ballet etc. 4 intr. move up
and down (on
water, in
the field of
vision, etc.). 5 tr. move (esp. a child) up and down;
dandle. --n. 1 a a
piece of dancing; a
sequence of steps in dancing. b a
special form of
this. 2 a
single round or
turn of a dance. 3 a
social gathering for dancing, a ball. 4 a piece of music for dancing to or in a dance
rhythm. 5 a dancing or lively
motion. ødance
attendance on
follow or
wait on (a person) obsequiously. dance of
death a
medieval dance in
which a personified Death is represented as leading
all to the grave. dance to a person's
tune accede obsequiously to a person's demands and wishes. lead a
person a dance (or
merry dance)
Brit.
cause a person
much trouble in
following a
course one has instigated. øødanceable adj. [ME f. OF dance, danse (n.),
dancer, danser (v.), f. Rmc, of unkn. orig.]