tap dance
4
3.0
- noun
- /tæp dæns/
:
claqué
- Becky started with a little tap dance, accompanied by her portable record player, which she'd set up outside.
- tap dance routine
- tap dance classes
- little tap dance
Examples
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As I said earlier, the story may be hokey and corny, the dialogue weak, but the music is fun, the talent assembled on the stage is "first class," and the tap dance is supreme.
Blog text (20) -
Pulling his cloth cap down over his eyes, he started to do a shuffling sort of tap dance there on the flagstones, his feet dancing to the floor, his arms down at his sides.
Fiction book (2002) -
Well, ah, would you like to see my tap dance?
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Time for a little tap dance.
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You should take tap dance.
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Dino tried to do his tap dance again.
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Kate fenner is up next, performing an original tap dance.
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He came by the house looking for you and heard Katie practicing her tap dance.
Fiction book (1995) -
I perform a little tap dance in my rubber boots, and the collie barks appreciatively.
Fiction book (2002) -
Becky amazed the audience with her energetic tap dance during the talent show.
Synonyms
5
3.0
A dance where shoes with metal plates make a rhythm when the feet hit the floor
1
7.0
A style of dance with smooth, light steps done while wearing soft, quiet shoes
A smooth, graceful tap dance done in shoes with soft soles
A smooth, gentle tap dance that uses soft-soled shoes
Antonyms
How Energetic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to perform a style of dance characterized by rhythmic tapping sounds' is directly and compositionally derived from 'tap' (producing rhythmic sounds with the feet) + 'dance' (moving rhythmically). This straightforward combination follows common English compound/verb+verb patterns and would be readily inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Tap dance comes from the clear picture of dancers wearing shoes with small metal plates called taps that hit the floor like little drums. That's why the noun means 'a dance that makes rhythm with the feet'.