tap dance

¹

noun

1. a dance in which the rhythm or rhythmical variation is audibly tapped out with the toe or heel by a dancer wearing shoes with special hard soles or with taps.

tap-dance

²

[tap-dans, -dahns]

verb (used without object)

tap-danced, tap-dancing 

1. to perform a tap dance.

tap dance

noun

1. a step dance in which the performer wears shoes equipped with taps that make a rhythmic sound on the stage as he dances

verb

1. to perform a tap dance

Other Word Forms

• tap-dancer noun
• tap-dancing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tap dance¹

Probably earlier than 1925–30

Origin of tap dance²

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Even the extended intro credits have a witty energy that makes you forgive that they’re tap dancing to pad the length.

From Los Angeles Times

The last time a penguin was this serious of an awards contender, it was tap dancing with happy feet.

From Los Angeles Times

As a professor, I plunged right back into teaching classes, tap dancing away the loss and cracking macabre jokes at my own expense, remarking that the fires were the ultimate Marie Kondo exercise in decluttering.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching Lyonne’s heroine tap dance away from strafing fire gets old pretty fast, but at least Johnson and his writers realize that.

From Salon

Arriving on stage in a sparkly tuxedo dress, she rearranged her hits Espresso and Please Please Please in a jazzy big band style, and even delivered a fleet-footed tap dance sequence.

From BBC