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country dancing

country dancing

1 3.3
A traditional group dance where couples face each other in lines and do the same steps to folk music
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌntri ˈdænsɪŋ/
  • UK
translation icon : baile country
  • Every Friday night, the community center hosts an event for country dancing, attracting many enthusiastic participants.

Examples

  • The atmosphere is further enhanced by the scenes of English country dancing.

    Blog text (3)
  • In anticipation of a pleasurable evening of Scottish country dancing, nearly everyone had turned out in full Highland dress.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I also danced square dancing, Scottish country dancing, ballroom dancing... all vigorous exercise by themselves.

    Blog text (4)
  • During the festival, we joined a group of friends for some lively country dancing in the park.

  • They enjoyed country dancing together, moving in sync as they paired up with other couples.

Synonyms

square dance
vscountry dancing
  • US
3 3.3

A country dance with four couples in a square led by a caller

is centered on lines or sets facing one another, not a square
square dancing
vscountry dancing
  • US
3 3.2

A country dance for four couples who face each other and follow a caller

uses facing sets or lines rather than a square formation
traditional dance
vscountry dancing
1 2.8

A dance from a community that people learn from their grandparents

is the specific paired set or line form within cultural traditions
country-dance
vscountry dancing
5.3

A traditional folk dance where couples stand in sets or lines and do the same steps to music

is the modern unstressed phrasing for the same set and line style
contradance
vscountry dancing
  • US
9.5

A lively folk dance with couples in lines doing set steps

is the general traditional style expressed as sets or lines facing each other
contra danse
vscountry dancing
  • US
9.9

A traditional dance where couples form two facing lines and follow a set of steps

refers broadly to the traditional paired sets and line formations
longways dance
vscountry dancing
  • UK
9.7

A country dance with couples in two long lines facing each other

covers that formation but also other set or line arrangements
Virginia reel
vscountry dancing
  • US
9.1

A country dance where two lines of couples face each other and do lively steps

is the broader traditional style not limited to that regional lively form
to folk dance
vscountry dancing
3.7

To dance in a traditional style from a region

is one particular style where couples perform in sets or lines
folk dancing
vscountry dancing
3.1

Dances that people in a region pass down over time

is a specific partnered style within that broader community practice

How Traditional

country dancing
  • UK
1 3.3
modern dance
7 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

country + dance

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'country' (rural/traditional) with 'dancing' (moving rhythmically to music); it denotes dancing associated with rural or folk traditions. This noun+gerund composition is compositional and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely understand the MWE.

Etymology

Country dancing comes from the simple dances people in the country did long ago, with couples standing in lines and moving together while dancing. That's why country dancing today means 'traditional folk dances' where people dance together in groups.