Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dance \Dance\, v. t.
   To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and
   down; to dandle.

         To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. --Shak.

         Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced
         thee on his knee.                        --Shak.

   {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.

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

Dance \Dance\ (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Danced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Dancing}.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dans[=o]n 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.

            Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. --Wither.

            Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances
            with your daughter?                   --Shak.

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

            Then, 'tis time to dance off.         --Thackeray.

            More dances my rapt heart Than when I first my
            wedded mistress saw.                  --Shak.

            Shadows in the glassy waters dance.   --Byron.

            Where rivulets dance their wayward round.
                                                  --Wordsworth.

   {To dance on a rope}, or {To dance on nothing}, to be hanged.

Dance \Dance\, 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.

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

   Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older
         writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.

               Of remedies of love she knew parchance For of
               that art she couth the olde dance. --Chaucer.

   {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.

Source : WordNet®

dance
     n 1: an artistic form of nonverbal communication
     2: a party of people assembled for dancing
     3: taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time
        to music [syn: {dancing}, {terpsichore}, {saltation}]
     4: a party for social dancing

dance
     v 1: move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl
          danced into the room"
     2: move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or
        perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home
        to the radio" [syn: {trip the light fantastic}, {trip the
        light fantastic toe}]
     3: skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing
        flames"; "The children danced with joy"