rumba

American  

[ruhm-buh, room-, room-] / ˈrʌm bə, ˈrʊm-, ˈrum- /

Also rhumba

noun

PLURAL

rumbas

1. a dance, Cuban in origin and complex in rhythm.

2. an imitation or adaptation of this dance in the United States.

3. music for this dance or in its rhythm.

---

verb (used without object)

rumbaed, rumbaing

1. to dance the rumba.

rumba British  

/ ˈrʌmbə, ˈrʊm- /

noun

1. a rhythmic and syncopated Cuban dance in duple time

2. a ballroom dance derived from this

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

---

Etymology

Origin of rumba

First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish (Cuba): literally, “party; spree,” from Spanish rumbo “commotion, uproar,” earlier “ostentation, pomp”; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

“I also danced. I did the rumba because it was difficult to keep setting up all my magic stuff,” Dea said.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Smith’s syncopated keyboard style reflected the influence of his early idol, Professor Longhair, who combined boogie-woogie with habanera and rumba rhythms.

From Washington Post

She and partner Philip Raabe were the first couple to achieve a perfect score in the series and lasted for eight weeks, entertaining viewers with their rumba, paso doble and tango.

From BBC

The Cuban remedy “is a vaccine made for us, to the rhythm of the guaguancó, under the heat of the Caribbean,” Maduro assured his compatriots, referring to a subgenre of Cuban rumba.

From Washington Post

In just a year, he’s learned the waltz, the tango, the foxtrot, the rumba, the cha-cha and all kinds of other dances.

From Washington Times