tap dancer
5
3.5
- noun
- /tæp ˈdænsər/
- "I was a professional tap dancer before entering the Navy in 1941," Sam says.
- a great tap dancer
- a black tap dancer
- a legged tap dancer
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Watch on YouTubeHey, man, now I besides rapping, you were a tap dancer, right?
- Hey, man, now I besides rapping, you were a tap dancer, right?
Examples
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I would spare this terrific tap dancer!
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Yes, there were some tap dancers in the hallway.
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Our first act tonight, an amazing duo of tap dancers.
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Clay Williams, finest tap dancer in Harlem!
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Posters, articles, and pictures of great tap dancers and Diane Sawyer cover the walls.
Fiction book (1999) -
Exotic dancers, tap dancers, and ballet dancers often appeared together in variety shows and revues that toured the country, playing at small regional theaters.
Academic text (2000) -
According to the Stearns, class acts were tap dancers who finessed their routines by incorporating the total body, not just fancy footwork, into their dances.
Academic text (2012) -
The crowd applauded as the young tap dancer showcased her skills on stage.
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He always dreamed of becoming a famous tap dancer like his idol, Fred Astaire.
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During the performance, the tap dancer created mesmerizing rhythms with her shoes.
Synonyms
2
9.5
A dancer who performs lively tap dance for a living
1
6.2
A dancer who makes beats by hitting the floor with metal pieces on their shoes
How Skilled
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'tap' (making rhythmic sounds with the feet/shoes) specifies the type of 'dancer', so a learner who knows both words can infer 'a dancer who performs tap dance'. This follows normal modifier+noun composition and is readily understandable to a B1 learner without prior exposure.
Etymology
Tap dancer comes from the small metal taps fixed to the toes and heels of a dancer's shoes. When the dancer hits the floor, the taps make clear, rhythmic sounds, so the term means 'a person who makes music with their feet'.