belly dance

noun

1. a solo dance of Middle Eastern origin, performed by a woman with midriff exposed, emphasizing movements of the pelvis and abdominal muscles.

belly dance

noun

1. a sensuous and provocative dance of Middle Eastern origin, performed by women, with undulating movements of the hips and abdomen

verb

1. intr to perform such a dance

Derived Forms

• belly dancer, noun

Other Words From

• belly dancer noun
• belly dancing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of belly dance¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

She attends hip-hop and belly dance classes (known as Arabic dance in Iran) just to shine more at parties.

From The Daily Beast

The woman is question is 20-year-old Lizzi Miller, plus-size model and belly-dance enthusiast who wears a size 12-14.

From The Daily Beast