1. [n]  taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
2. [n]  an artistic form of nonverbal communication
3. [n]  a party for social dancing
4. [n]  a party of people assembled for dancing
5. [v]  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"
6. [v]  move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl danced into the room"
7. [v]  skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy"

1. \Dance\ (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Danced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Dancing}.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dans[=o]n to draw;
   akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. apinsan, and prob. from the
   same root (meaning to stretch) as E. thin. See {Thin}.]
   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.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

3. \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See {Dance}, v.
   i.]
   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.
   
   

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).