DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 dance /ˈdæn(t)s, ˈdɑn(t)s/
 (vi.)跳舞,手舞足蹈舞蹈,跳舞;舞會

 Dance v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing.]
 1. To move with measured steps, or to a musical accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company with others, with a regulated succession of movements, (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap rhythmically.
    Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance.   --Wither.
 Good shepherd, what fair swain is this
 Which dances with your daughter?   --Shak.
 2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about.
    Then, 'tis time to dance off.   --Thackeray.
 More dances my rapt heart
 Than when I first my wedded mistress saw.   --Shak.
    Shadows in the glassy waters dance.   --Byron.
    Where rivulets dance their wayward round.   --Wordsworth.
 To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged.

 Dance v. t. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle.
    To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind.   --Shak.
 Thy grandsire loved thee well;
 Many a time he danced thee on his knee.   --Shak.
 To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a view to please or gain favor.
 A man of his place, and so near our favor,
 To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure.   --Shak.

 Dance, n.
 1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord with music.
 2. Mus. A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
 Note: ☞ The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.
 Of remedies of love she knew parchance
 For of that art she couth the olde dance.   --Chaucer.
 Dance of Death Art, an allegorical representation of the power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high, and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.
 Morris dance. See Morris.
 To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a dance not understood.
 ◄ ►

 dance
      n 1: an artistic form of nonverbal communication
      2: a party of people assembled for dancing
      3: taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time
         to music [syn: dancing, terpsichore, saltation]
      4: a party for social dancing
      v 1: move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl
           danced into the room"
      2: move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or
         perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home
         to the radio" [syn: trip the light fantastic, trip the
         light fantastic toe]
      3: skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing
         flames"; "The children danced with joy"

 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).