Tango Meaning
/ˈtæ̞ŋɡəʊ̯/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA standard ballroom dance in 4/4 time; or a social dance, the Argentine tango.
nounA Spanish flamenco dance with different steps from the Argentine.
Sentence Examples
My favorite dance is the tango.
Tango is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Argentine couple danced the ____, a dance known for sharp head movements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The professional dancers performed a very passionate ____ that received a standing ovation from the entire audience today.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Rioplatense Spanish tango, probably from a Niger-Congo language (compare Ibibio tamgu (“to dance”)).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Creamy cheese, tangy-sweet peppers, and a hit of heat tango in this sexy deviled-egg combo."
— 2013, Kathy Casey, D'Lish Deviled Eggs, page 67:
"The two tangoes running toward the carnage at the prison door dropped simultaneously, dead in their tracks."
— 2005, Charles W. Sasser, Detachment Delta: Operation Aces Wild, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 370:
"The sharp crack of breaking glass preceded Emily's calm voice. "One tango dead and Marcus is down, John.""
— 2017, Beth Rhodes, Strike Zone, →ISBN, page 210:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Argentine couple danced the ____, a dance known for sharp head movements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The professional dancers performed a very passionate ____ that received a standing ovation from the entire audience today.