rumba

[ ruhm-buh, room-, room- ]

noun

, plural rum·bas [ruhm, -b, uh, z, room, -, room, -].

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)

, rum·baed [ruhm, -b, uh, d, room, -, room, -], rum·ba·ing [ruhm, -b, uh, -ing, room, -, room, -].

1. to dance the rumba.

rumba

/ ˈrʊm-; ˈrʌmbə /

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumba¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumba¹

C20: from Spanish: lavish display, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Afrobeats, afropop, soukous, rumba, gengetone, kwaito and Arabic pop—these are some of the sounds breaking through Africa’s borders and bringing the world’s attention to the continent.

From Quartz

Henry's teeth already were chattering like the gourds in a rumba band.

From Project Gutenberg

He snatched up the startled girls' counselor and improvised a little rumba.

From Project Gutenberg