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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of many proceedings besides dancing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of remedies of love she knew parchance
For of that art she couth the olde dance. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Danced p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing. ] [ F. danser, fr. OHG. dansōn 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. Wither. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good shepherd, what fair swain is this
Which dances with your daughter? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then, 'tis time to dance off. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

More dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shadows in the glassy waters dance. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where rivulets dance their wayward round. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

To dance on a rope, or
To dance on nothing, to be hanged. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle. [ 1913 Webster ]

To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy grandsire loved thee well;
Many a time he danced thee on his knee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of his place, and so near our favor,
To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who dances or who practices dancing. [ 1913 Webster ]

The merry dancers, beams of the northern lights when they rise and fall alternately without any considerable change of length. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female dancer. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. danché dancetté, dent tooth. ] (Her.) Deeply indented; having large teeth; thus, a fess dancetté has only three teeth in the whole width of the escutcheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. & vb. n. from Dance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dancing girl, one of the women in the East Indies whose profession is to dance in the temples, or for the amusement of spectators. There are various classes of dancing girls. --
Dancing master, a teacher of dancing. --
Dancing school, a school or place where dancing is taught. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Same as Dancetté. [ 1913 Webster ]