PRANCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does prance mean? 

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

1. a proud stiff pompous gait

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

• PRANCE (verb)
  The verb PRANCE has 4 senses:

1. to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others

2. spring forward on the hind legs

3. cause (a horse) to bound spring forward

4. ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward

  Familiarity information: PRANCE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A proud stiff pompous gait

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

prance; strut; swagger

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

gait (a person's manner of walking)

Derivation:

prance (to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others)

• PRANCE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they prance    ... he / she / it prances   
Past simple: pranced   
Past participle: pranced   
-ing form: prancing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

cock; prance; ruffle; sashay; strut; swagger; tittup

Context example:

He struts around like a rooster in a hen house

Hypernyms (to "prance" is one way to...):

walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The children prance to the playground

Derivation:

prance (a proud stiff pompous gait)

prancer (a mettlesome or fiery horse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Spring forward on the hind legs

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The young horse was prancing in the meadow

Hypernyms (to "prance" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

prance (cause (a horse) to bound spring forward)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause (a horse) to bound spring forward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "prance" is one way to...):

ride; sit (sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions)

Verb group:

prance (spring forward on the hind legs)

Domain category:

horseback riding; riding (travel by being carried on horseback)

equitation; horseback riding; riding (the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "prance" is one way to...):

ride horseback (ride on horseback)

Domain category:

horseback riding; riding (travel by being carried on horseback)

equitation; horseback riding; riding (the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

"She's coming! Strike up, Beth! Open the door, Amy! Three cheers for Marmee!" cried Jo, prancing about while Meg went to conduct Mother to the seat of honor.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He backed away from her and began writhing and twisting playfully, curvetting and prancing, half rearing and striking his fore paws to the earth, struggling with all his body, from the wheedling eyes and flattening ears to the wagging tail, to express the thought that was in him and that was denied him utterance.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

One day, as he went prancing down a quiet street, he saw at the window of a ruinous castle the lovely face.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And so, at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Jo thought that was splendid, and resolved to be worthy of her knight, though he did not come prancing on a charger in gorgeous array.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Meg and Beth were frightened, but Jo clapped and pranced, and I sat on the fence and drew you.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I felt a little low in my mind as I sat up in my room after tea, and when the big, muddy, battered-looking bundle was brought to me, I just hugged it and pranced.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But Jo was mistaken, for Laurie came prancing in, overflowing with good spirits, bearing a great bridal-looking bouquet for 'Mrs. John Brooke', and evidently laboring under the delusion that the whole affair had been brought about by his excellent management.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The twins pranced behind, feeling that the millennium was at hand, for everyone was so busy with the newcomers that they were left to revel at their own sweet will, and you may be sure they made the most of the opportunity.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

All the married people take hands and dance round the new-made husband and wife, as the Germans do, while we bachelors and spinsters prance in couples outside! cried Laurie, promenading down the path with Amy, with such infectious spirit and skill that everyone else followed their example without a murmur.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)