DANCING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dancing mean? 

• DANCING (noun)
  The noun DANCING has 1 sense:

1. taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

  Familiarity information: DANCING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DANCING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore

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

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

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Domain member category:

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

heel (perform with the heels)

belly dance (perform a belly dance)

tap dance (perform a tap dance)

clog (dance a clog dance)

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"):

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

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)

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

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)

Derivation:

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

 Context examples 

They kept this day as a holiday, then and ever after, and spent the time in feasting and dancing.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

There was no one on earth outside the Joint who knew the secret of the dancing men.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then she could gradually rise up to the genuine satisfaction of having a partner, a voluntary partner, secured against the dancing began.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The cotillions were over, the country-dancing beginning, and she saw nothing of the Tilneys.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I should have no pleasure in dancing with anyone else.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your command—but my dancing days are over.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

And in that moment the sapling reared its slender length upright and the rabbit soared dancing in the air again.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burned breadth would show, so she stared at people rather forlornly till the dancing began.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He resumed his unpleasant and stealthy advance, pointing his toes as he walked, like a dancing master.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)