waltz
Americannoun
-
a ballroom dance, in moderately fast triple meter, in which the dancers revolve in perpetual circles, taking one step to each beat.
-
a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance.
-
Informal. an easy victory or accomplishment.
The game was a waltz—we won by four touchdowns. The math exam was a waltz.
adjective
verb (used without object)
-
to dance or move in a waltz step or rhythm.
an invitation to waltz.
-
Informal.
-
to move breezily or casually.
to waltz in late for dinner.
-
to progress easily or successfully (often followed bythrough ).
to waltz through an exam.
-
verb (used with object)
-
to lead (a partner) in dancing a waltz.
-
Informal. to move or lead briskly and easily.
He waltzed us right into the governor's office.
-
to fill (a period of time) with waltzing (often followed by away, through, etc.).
They waltzed the night away.
noun
-
a ballroom dance in triple time in which couples spin around as they progress round the room
-
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
verb
-
to dance or lead (someone) in or as in a waltz
he waltzed her off her feet
-
(intr) to move in a sprightly and self-assured manner
-
informal (intr) to succeed easily
Other Word Forms
- waltzer noun
- waltzlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of waltz
1775–85; back formation from German Walzer a waltz (taken as walz + -er 1 ), derivative of walzen to roll, dance; compare obsolete English walt unsteady, dial. walter to roll
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vargas Llosa intersperses the story with nimbly delivered informational chapters explaining the history and influences of the Peruvian vals, or waltz, which synthesizes European and indigenous musical styles.
The iconic president’s son failed the New York bar exam twice and co-founded George magazine, a glossy devoted to waltzing at the intersection of politics and popular people.
From Salon
Back in the actual 1990s, ice dancers cycled through traditional dances: samba, blues, polka, rumba, quickstep, tango, jive, paso doble, Viennese waltz.
Because it was a waltz, listeners could dance to the tune, lending to its popularity.
"Home was a happy place. Daddy taught me how to waltz by standing me on his feet, and we would have waltzed around the living room," she said.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
