tango

[tang-goh]

noun

plural

tangos 

1. a ballroom dance of Latin American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses.

2. music for this dance.

3. a word used in communications to represent the letter T.

verb (used without object)

tangoed, tangoing 

1. to dance the tango.

Tango

¹

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter t

tango

²

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a Latin American dance in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

verb

1. (intr) to perform this dance

tango

1. A sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century.

Other Word Forms

• tangoist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish, possibly from a Niger-Congo language such as Ibibio tamgu “to dance”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

C20: from American Spanish, probably of Niger-Congo origin; compare Ibibio tamgu to dance

Example Sentences

His credits include “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” “Zola” and “Saturday Night.”

From Los Angeles Times

The “Book Lovers” film from Tango Entertainment will be written by “Girls” writer and producer Sarah Heyward.

From Los Angeles Times

Other fan favourites include The Masochism Tango, in which singer extols his beloved's violent passions with the lyrics, "I ache for the touch of your lips, dear / But much more for the touch of your whips, dear..."

From BBC

"I've never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career. It takes two to tango, but that historic crowd reaction was all for you," wrote Johnson, now a major Hollywood star.

From BBC

The festival further hosts multimedia projects, lakeside tango, children’s programs and other miscellany events.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disco 
• samba 
• waltz